JUDICIARY
Lawyers Differ on Non-Execution of Convicts Sentenced to Death
Some lawyers in Lagos on Monday expressed different views on why court orders for the execution of convicts who are sentenced to death were hardly carried out across the country.
The lawyers told the reporters that many convicts who had been sentenced to death over the years were in various correctional centres on tax payers’ expense.
They said that though convicts were given the opportunity to exhaust their rights to appeal the judgment up to the Supreme Court, government should address the issue.
In his opinion, Dr Yemi Omodele, Principal Partner, Omodele Chambers, Ikeja, said that some state governors refused to carry out their statutory function of signing the death warrants for such inmates to be executed as required by law.
He said that other factors which inhibited the action included appeals pending at the appellate courts.
“There is non-disclosure by the correctional centre authorities to the governors of the states of the condemned inmates.
“The clamoring for the abolition of death sentence globally also hinders execution of death sentence,” Omodele said.
He, however, advised government to tackle all the factors hindering the process to reduce the wasting of the tax payer’s money.
Omodele said that the execution of convicts sentenced to death, would serve as a deterrence to others and would go a long way to curb crime rate in Nigeria.
According to Mr Chibuikem Opara, a Partner at the Justification Chambers, Ikeja, the only time a death penalty is carried out is when the governor of the state signs the death warrant.
He stated that the last head of state who signed such document for the federal government was ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, while Oshiomole was the last governor who signed for the states.
“It appears that none of them wants blood on their head,” he said.
Opara explained that after a death sentence has been pronounced, the head of government has a constitutional right to exercise prerogative of mercy by reducing it to life imprisonment or a term of years.
Mr Chris Ayiyi, Principal Partner, Ayiyi Chambers, Apapa, said: “There is no law that says if the governor of the state refuses to carry out the court order, the governor will be impeached or be liable for contempt.”
He advised that the law should be revisited and reduced to life sentence instead of the death penalty, adding that most western countries had already abolished the death sentence.
Mr Bayo Akinlade, former Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ikorodu branch, said, “There is a process to a judgement of this nature.
“The convict must be given time to appeal and until he exhausts these rights, he won’t be put to death”. (NAN)
A 42-year-old woman, Bukola Solademi, was on Friday arraigned before a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan over alleged theft of carbonated drinks and bottled water valued at N7.688 million.
Solademi, however, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge levelled against her.
The court’s President, Mrs O.
E. Owoseni, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000, with two reliable sureties in like sum.Owoseni said that the sureties must be blood relatives, show evidence of three years tax payment to Oyo State government, present their National Identification Numbers and show evidence of ownership of landed property in Ibadan.
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till July 4 for hearing.
The Prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Ayeni, had earlier told the court that the defendant committed the offence between March 2024 and April 2025 at Ibikunle, Ayeye area of Ibadan.
Ayeni further said that Solademi stole 12 packs of Bigi water valued at N14,750, 31; packs of big Eva water valued at N309,400, 176 and packs of Mr V water valued at N264,400.
He said that the defendant also stole 405 packs of Predator valued at N1.903,400 and 14 packs of Schewepps valued at N57,600.
The prosecutor listed other items allegedly stolen by the defendant to include: 244 packs of pet coke valued at N882,300; 20 packs of big American cola valued at N128,00012 and packs of Bigi Cola valued at N240,000.
The remaining items were one carton of Lacasera valued at N1,850,240,000; 34 cartons of Pepsi valued at N104,100; 100 cartons of Coca-cola valued at N520,000 and 243 cartons of Fearless valued at N992,300.
The other stolen drinks were: 75 cartons of Bigi Fanta valued at N240,000, 14 packs of Sosa drink valued at N4,000 and 395 packs of Bigi American cola valued at N1.422 million.
Ayeni said that the drinks belonged to one Ajoke Ayinde, a businesswoman.
According to him, the offence contravenes the provisions of section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. (NAN)
Three men, Wasiu Ayanyemi, Ibtahim Adeniji and Oluwabunmi Owoyemi, were on Wednesday docked in an Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly assaulting woman and causing her to miscarry.
The police charged Ayanyemi, 40; Adeniji, 49, and Owoyemi, 40, whose addresses were not disclosed with conspiracy to wit felony, breach of peace, and assault occasionally harm.
The three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, said the offence were committed on May 8, at Benson bus-stop area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Isaac said the defendants assaulted a three-month pregnanr woman, Ms Adejoke Olusoj, causing her bodily harm and miscarriage
The prosecutor said the defendants also conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace
He added the offence contravened the provisions of sections 411, 168(d), 173 and 245 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr B. A. Sonuga, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.
Sonuga adjourned the case until June 16 for further mention. (NAN)
A 38-year-old man, Yusuf Olasunkanmi, was brought before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on Monday, for allegedly assaulting another man with a blow.
Olasunkanmi, whose address was not provided, is facing three-count charges of assault, conspiracy and breach of peace.
The Prosecutor, Insp E.
O. Adaraloye, told the court that the defendant alongside others still at large, committed the offences on April 25, at about 5. 30p.m. at Atan Bus-Stop, Ota.Adaraloye alleged that the defendant and his accomplices conspired to conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by assaulting the complainant, Oke Solomon, with a fist of blow.
He added that the assault caused the complainant, a permanent injury.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 351, 355 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mrs O. O. Fadairo, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to Ogun Government.
The case was adjourned to June 10, for further hearing. (NAN)
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