Four death row inmates hanged in Edo State today
Four death row inmates were hanged in Benin, Edo State, today Monday
June 24th, after their death warrants were signed by the Edo State
Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
The inmates included Osaremwinda Aigbuohian and Daniel Nsofor, whose
lawyers have been struggling to obtain a stay of execution on the death
sentence; and two other convicts whose identities are yet to be
ascertained.
According to the Supreme Court, Mr. Aiguohian killed and dismembered
the body of his victim while Mr. Nsofor forcefully robbed, tortured and
strangled a woman to death.
Mr. Oshiomhole allegedly signed the death warrants of the unnamed duo
last month, despite appeals by local and international organizations
including Amnesty International and Access to Justice.
President Goodluck Jonathan
had directed state governors to exercise their constitutional rights by
signing death warrants of death row inmates in order to reduce the
rising level of criminality in the country.
Henry Idahagbon, Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for
Justice, said that the defence team of the death row inmates,
led by a civil society group, LEDAP, had tried up till the last minute
to stop the hanging but did not succeed.
Three of the inmates were convicted outside Edo State and all the
executed inmates had been issued the death penalty years ago, according
to Mr. Idahagbon.
Source:
Premium Times
