I’ll sign death warrants of convicts who killed their victims – Oshiomhole

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo said
he would sign the death warrants of
convicts who killed their victims.
Oshiomhole gave this assurance in Benin on
Thursday when members of the Conference
of Non-Governmental Organisations
(CONGOs) paid him a courtesy visit.
“There are seven convicts whose cases are
being reviewed. I will sign the death
warrant of any of them, especially
kidnappers, found to have killed any of their
victims.
“I believe that those who kill by the sword
should also die by the sword.’’
Oshiomhole said that signing convicts’ death
warrants was a signal to other criminals
that the State was a wrong place for
criminal activities.
He said that the non-execution of convicted
criminals in the last 15 to 20 years had not
led to reduction in criminality in the state.
He, however, said that the government was
proposing to the state legislature that if
kidnappers released their victims unharmed
and without raping them, such kidnappers
should be given life imprisonment.
Oshiomhole also said that if the need arose,
the Edo Government would make law to
protect the girl-child from underage
marriage.
He, however, pointed out that the girl-child
marriage was not an issue in the state,
adding that the problem with Nigeria was
not in making laws but implementing them.
The governor said that there was the need
to strengthen the partnership between the
Edo government and NGOs.
Earlier, the President of CONGOs, Mr Jude
Obasami, said although CONGOs condemn
kidnapping and other crimes, Edo
government `should apply human face’ with
regards to signing death warrants.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls
media reports on July 23 that Oshiomhole
signed the death warrants of four criminals
and were executed in Benin.
The next day, his Chief Press Secretary, Mr
Peter Okhiria, however, denied that
Oshiomhole ever signed such warrants.
(NAN)