A staggering 37 condemned prisoners, comprising 36 males and one female, are languishing on death row in Bauchi State, awaiting execution.
The Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Bauchi, Mr. Ahmed Tata, said in an interview with NAN, that none of the democratically elected governors in the state have signed death warrants since 1999.
This development has sparked a heated debate among stakeholders, with some attributing the governors’ reluctance to sign death warrants to the irreversibility of execution, while others cite concerns about wrongful convictions and the role of the office of the Attorney General.
“It’s a heavy responsibility, and governors may be hesitant to sign death warrants due to the risk of executing an innocent person,” said the Chairman of the Network for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Bauchi, Mr. Garba Jinjiri.
“Some convicts may still have cases under appeal or awaiting decisions from higher courts, which could also contribute to the delay.”
A Jigawa-based political analyst, Dr. Muhammad Reza, believed that the democratic constitution indirectly impedes the implementation of capital punishment in Nigeria.
“The governors consistently withhold approval primarily to avoid antagonizing foreign donors, who might judge them based on human rights standards, and withdraw their support,” he said.
Lawyers Jubrin S. Jubrin and Hassan Muhammed argue that the governors have a duty to ensure justice is served, while also acknowledging the complexities surrounding capital punishment.
“The governors have a binding duty to offer legal advice on all legal matters, including the exercise of the power to sign death warrants,” Jubrin said.
Muhammed added, “Nigeria’s legal system is often criticized for delays, weak investigation procedures, and lack of access to quality legal representations, which poses serious legal and human rights implications.”
As the debate continues, the fate of the 37 condemned prisoners in Bauchi remains uncertain, highlighting the need for a review of capital punishment in Nigeria.
