Amnesty International condemns execution of Edo prisoners

Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo state

Amnesty International has condemned the execution of three death row prisoners by the Edo State government on December 23, 2016.

The organization also urged the Nigerian authorities, including state governments to return to a moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

 

AI said in a statement on Thursday by its Country Acting Director, Makmid Kamara that executions in Edo state is a “backward step in the global trend towards abolition of the death penalty.”

The statement read in part, “Amnesty International strongly condemns the executions on December 23, 2016, of three death row prisoners in Benin City prison by the Edo State government and calls on authorities in Nigeria not to carry out any further executions of death row prisoners.

” We urge the Nigerian government, including all states in the federation, to return to a moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty”.

“The latest executions in Edo state is a backward step in the global trend towards abolition of the death penalty and is inconsistent with Nigeria’s international human rights commitments.

“Stopping executions and doing away with the death penalty does not mean that criminals go unpunished. It is essential that human rights standards, including allowing for full appeals to complete, are respected in all stages of the criminal justice process. All punishments must be compatible with human rights.”