The Ogun State government has threatened to sign death sentences of condemned criminals in custodial centres and send them to the gallow.
This is coming when the dust raised over the abduction of the wife of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu (Rted) at her residence in Arepo area of the State by heavily armed men who fired sporadic gunshots on Friday, is yet-to abate.
Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), the State Attorney General said this after inspecting inmates and facilities at the Correctional Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta.
He said move is part of measures to decongest the centres and serve as deterrent to criminals in the State arising from high incidents of ritual murder, kidnapping, cultism, and other crimes.
According to him, “I can tell you that we are looking seriously at a means of sending a message that Ogun State is not a place where you can come and commit such serious crimes and get away with it.
“The law as of today, for example, states that a murder case attracts the death penalty and some other offenses.
“But if you look at it nationally, for a long time, there has been reluctance on the part of governments across the State, particularly since the advent of democratic rule, to sign Death Warrants.
“But I assure you that at this time, we are looking very seriously at following the law to its letter.
“It is part of the duty of the governor to sign Death Warrants, and I am certain that when he took that oath of office, he took it knowing full well the responsibilities that come with it.
“He is a Governor who upholds the rule of law, so I can assure you that in deserving cases, he will not shy away from that constitutional duty”, Ogungbade who said this, however did not give the timeline.
Currently, the data of condemned criminals sentenced by competent courts for heinous crimes have been on the ascendancy in the State.
Besides, the moratorium abolishing on execution, seems to have compelled most national and sub-national governments including Nigeria, backing down on execution of criminals on death row.
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