The National Human Rights Commission has requested the Governor of Edo state to suspend the planned execution of two inmates on the death row in the state.
Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, in a letter to the Governor stated that the commission is in receipt of petitions of planned executions of two inmates Messrs. Calistus Eke and Olu Fatogun, who have already appealed against the death sentences passed on them by the High Court in Edo state.
The Executive Secretary stated that, there is an urgent need for the Governor, who has signed the execution order of the two inmates, to rescind the decision immediately pending the final determination of the appeal filed by the two inmates.
In a letter to the Governor, dated October 18, 2012 and titled, “RE PLANNED EXECUTION OF CALISTUS EKE AND OLU FATOGUN”, Prof. Angwe drew the attention of the Governor to the pending appeals filed by the two inmates before the Court of Appeal.
He also reminded the Governor that “executing them could be unconstitutional and a denial of their rights to appeal and fair hearing under Section 241 and 36 respectively, of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Besides, Your Excellency, will “recall that the National Study Group On Death Penalty in 2004 advised that there should be a moratorium on execution in Nigeria and this position has been officially adopted by the Nigerian Government.
“In view of the above, we urge Your Excellency to rescind your execution order on the inmates, pending the final determination of the appeal.
“We look forward to an immediate halt to the execution to ensure that the judicial process takes its full course in this matter, the Executive Secretary said.
