Foremost human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has pleaded with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State to commute the death sentence passed on inmates in the state to life imprisonment.
Falana advised Governor Ambode to see reason why the condemned persons should not to be executed.
Among those currently on death row following the judgment of the courts in Lagos State include the General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Rev. King.
Falana had in a letter addressed to Governor Ambode and dated April 19, 2017, said that the planned execution of prison inmates on death row in the state would violate a subsisting judgment delivered in 2012 by the High Court of Lagos State, which ruled that it was illegal and unconstitutional to execute the condemned inmates.
He said, “On the basis of the valid and subsisting judgment of the Lagos High Court on the illegality of the execution of the death penalty in Lagos State, we urge Your Excellency not to sign a death warrant authorising the killing of any condemned prisoner, either by hanging, firing squad or any other means whatsoever.
“In the circumstance, Your Excellency may wish to commute the death sentences of all condemned prisoners in Lagos State to life imprisonment forthwith.”
The human rights activist added, “Although many persons have been convicted for armed robbery and murder and sentenced to death by the Lagos State High Court since 1999, your predecessors did not sign death warrants for the execution of any person on death row.
“Accordingly, all the convicts on death row have had the death sentences imposed on them commuted to life imprisonment.’’
Among those currently on death row following the judgment of the courts in Lagos State include the General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Rev. King.
Falana had in a letter addressed to Governor Ambode and dated April 19, 2017, said that the planned execution of prison inmates on death row in the state would violate a subsisting judgment delivered in 2012 by the High Court of Lagos State, which ruled that it was illegal and unconstitutional to execute the condemned inmates.
He said, “On the basis of the valid and subsisting judgment of the Lagos High Court on the illegality of the execution of the death penalty in Lagos State, we urge Your Excellency not to sign a death warrant authorising the killing of any condemned prisoner, either by hanging, firing squad or any other means whatsoever.
“In the circumstance, Your Excellency may wish to commute the death sentences of all condemned prisoners in Lagos State to life imprisonment forthwith.”
The human rights activist added, “Although many persons have been convicted for armed robbery and murder and sentenced to death by the Lagos State High Court since 1999, your predecessors did not sign death warrants for the execution of any person on death row.
“Accordingly, all the convicts on death row have had the death sentences imposed on them commuted to life imprisonment.’’
