Calling For Execution Of Inmates On Death Row As Decongestion Strategy Is Worrisome — CELSIR Reacts

*Advocates Abolition Of Death Sentence

A group under the aegis of the Centre for Legal Support and
Inmate Rehabilitation, CELSIR, has condemned the call by the
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for the execution of
the death row inmates as a measure to decongest the Correctional
Centers across the country.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, at the
official commissioning of the Osun State Command Headquarters of
Correctional Office Complex in Osogbo, had charged the State
Governors to sign the death warrants of inmates on death row. The
Minister while lamenting the overwhelming congestion of the
Correctional Centers in the country identified the total population
of inmates to be 68,747. He further stated that 50,992 are awaiting
trial while 17,755 are convicted inmates out of which 3008 are on
death row.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Aladesanmi
Joke, dated 24th July, 2021 made available to Nairalaw,
CESIR said from the statistics given by the Minister, 76% of the
total inmates are awaiting trial while those condemned to death are
just 4%. According to the group, call for executing the 4%
condemned population is worrisome.

They argued that some of those in death two are victims of an
unfair trial whose convictions were based on evidence obtained from
torture. That executing them will be an injustice.

They said, “From the given statistics, it is glaring that
congestion and overcrowding of correctional centers are due to the
high number of awaiting trial inmates which form 76% of the entire
inmate population. CELSIR, therefore, finds it highly disturbing
and worrisome that the Honourable Minister has identified the
execution of death row detainees who are just 4% of the total
inmate population as a viable means of decongesting the
Correctional Centers. We expect that the Honourable Minister would
have painstakingly addressed the overwhelming issue of delay in the
dispensation of justice which has contributed to the high
percentage of pretrial detainees

“In the absence of a just and effective criminal justice system,
many of the death row inmates are victims of unfair trials whose
convictions are based on torture-tainted evidence with inadequate
legal representation. CELSIR vehemently states that executing a
death row inmate in the face of such a dysfunctional criminal
justice system will culminate into an avalanche of injustice that
will be counterproductive.”

The Group called for speedy dispensation of justice and
rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates as contained in the
Correctional Service Act, 2019

They also called for joining countries like Sierra Leone and
Malawi to abolish the death penalty. They also advised against
signing death warrants against the inmates on death row

“To address the prevalence issue of congestions in the
Correctional Centers, CELSIR strongly advises the Government to
focus on the speedy dispensation of justice and ensure effective
rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates as contained in the
Correctional Service Act of 2019.

“CELSIR calls on the Government to refrain from signing any
death warrant but instead join countries like Malawi and Sierra
Leone in adopting an official moratorium towards the abolishment of
the death penalty while also commuting all death sentences to life
imprisonment.” the group said

*Advocates Abolition Of Death Sentence

A group under the aegis of the Centre for Legal Support and
Inmate Rehabilitation, CELSIR, has condemned the call by the
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for the execution of
the death row inmates as a measure to decongest the Correctional
Centers across the country.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, at the
official commissioning of the Osun State Command Headquarters of
Correctional Office Complex in Osogbo, had charged the State
Governors to sign the death warrants of inmates on death row. The
Minister while lamenting the overwhelming congestion of the
Correctional Centers in the country identified the total population
of inmates to be 68,747. He further stated that 50,992 are awaiting
trial while 17,755 are convicted inmates out of which 3008 are on
death row.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Aladesanmi
Joke, dated 24th July, 2021 made available to Nairalaw,
CESIR said from the statistics given by the Minister, 76% of the
total inmates are awaiting trial while those condemned to death are
just 4%. According to the group, call for executing the 4%
condemned population is worrisome.

They argued that some of those in death two are victims of an
unfair trial whose convictions were based on evidence obtained from
torture. That executing them will be an injustice.

They said, “From the given statistics, it is glaring that
congestion and overcrowding of correctional centers are due to the
high number of awaiting trial inmates which form 76% of the entire
inmate population. CELSIR, therefore, finds it highly disturbing
and worrisome that the Honourable Minister has identified the
execution of death row detainees who are just 4% of the total
inmate population as a viable means of decongesting the
Correctional Centers. We expect that the Honourable Minister would
have painstakingly addressed the overwhelming issue of delay in the
dispensation of justice which has contributed to the high
percentage of pretrial detainees

“In the absence of a just and effective criminal justice system,
many of the death row inmates are victims of unfair trials whose
convictions are based on torture-tainted evidence with inadequate
legal representation. CELSIR vehemently states that executing a
death row inmate in the face of such a dysfunctional criminal
justice system will culminate into an avalanche of injustice that
will be counterproductive.”

The Group called for speedy dispensation of justice and
rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates as contained in the
Correctional Service Act, 2019

They also called for joining countries like Sierra Leone and
Malawi to abolish the death penalty. They also advised against
signing death warrants against the inmates on death row

“To address the prevalence issue of congestions in the
Correctional Centers, CELSIR strongly advises the Government to
focus on the speedy dispensation of justice and ensure effective
rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates as contained in the
Correctional Service Act of 2019.

“CELSIR calls on the Government to refrain from signing any
death warrant but instead join countries like Malawi and Sierra
Leone in adopting an official moratorium towards the abolishment of
the death penalty while also commuting all death sentences to life
imprisonment.” the group said