Experts and government officials have explained that convicts on death sentence in both Kogi and Niger state are yet to be executed due to the fact that many of the cases are on appeal at either at the appeal court or Supreme Court.
In a special survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday, several factors including fear of miscarriage of justice, welfare of citizens and other considerations as responsible for the high number of convicts on death row.
Malam Nasiru Mua’zu, Niger state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General explained that governors have refused to sign death warrants because a high percentage of convicted cases are still on appeal.
“In Niger, 85 per cent of the 100 per cent of those sentenced to death are on appeal,” he said.
Muazu noted that such appeals could span a period of between ten and twenty years because they involve multiple stages, including the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
He stressed the importance of caution in death sentence cases in order not to execute somebody whose case was on appeal.
“This is the primary reason for the delays in executing death sentences as most convicts on death row in the state are still awaiting the outcome of their appeals.
“In Niger, over 85 per cent of people on death warrants are on appeal,” the commissioner said.
The governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo explained that governors chose to exercise caution in signing death warrants because it might result in mistakes and regrets given the fact that sometimes there are miscarriages of justice by the law courts.
According to Kogi state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Muiz Yinus-Abdullahi, there has been instances where people have been wrongly convicted and sentenced to death.
He said, “It is more safe and wise not to rush into signing death warrants because, after some years, some of the inmates on death row were found to be innocent of the crime they were accused of and sentenced to death.
“Therefore, it’s wise to wait and not rush into signing any death warrant. Again, since 1999 I have not heard of any state governor that has signed any death warrant.
“If I can recall, such was only happening during the military rule and not during democratic rule.
“Unfortunately, such inmates on death row are citizens of Kogi. So, it will be awkward as the chief custodian of the people.
“The people will say that I am assenting to their death instead of ensuring their wellbeing in spite of the crimes against the state.”
