In spite the existing moratorium placed on capital punishment in Nigeria, the federal government yesterday insisted that the death penalty remains and must be implemented on the condemned criminals in various prison formations in the country waiting for the hangman’s noose.
The government which agreed that it entered into a moratorium pact on death penalty however declared yesterday that the punishment would remain in force until the constitution and other relevant state laws were amended. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, who disclosed the position of the federal government on death penalty yesterday also declared that it did no wrong allowing the embattled Sudanese President, Omar Al-Bashir to participate in the recently concluded African Union summit which held in Abuja.
He said “President Al- Bashir was not in Nigeria at the invitation of the Nigerian Government. He came specifically to attend the summit.
As it is the practice and tradition of the AU, member states do not require special invitations to attend summits so convened by the authourity.
“This issue of President Al-Bashir attending the conference was therefore not a bilateral matter for Nigeria. It is an issue between the African Union, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other member states,” he stressed.
Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court, ICC, on charges of human rights abuses and war crimes. Ashiru clarified on the position of the federal government on the twin issue of death penalty and Al- Bashir during an interactive session with Ambassadors and Diplomats, in Abuja.
He specifically reminded representatives of foreign governments that capital punishment was part of the country’s statutes handed over to it by colonial authorities, and unless the laws were repealed, they would apply where necessary.
According to Ashiru, “Nigeria is not the only country where the death sentence is upheld. Although there is a moratorium on death penalty, this will continue to be determined by the appropriate authorities, including state governments who exercise the prerogative under the law.
“So long as our laws contain the provisions for death sentence,so long will it be enforced once it is pronounced by competent courts of law and due process fully followed,” he added.
He also said yesterday that the federal government would,henceforth, not tolerate comments and actions by the international community,that interfere or have the capacity to so do, with Nigeria’s domestic matters.
This was even as the government insisted that foreign relations must be conducted in accordance with existing rules,conventions and treaties regulating diplomatic relations.
Ashiru told the ambassadors and heads of missions in the country that the federal government would want them to confine themselves and the interests of their countries, to their traditional duties of, among others, facilitating trade and other mutually-beneficial relations, rather than “conduct activities that are incompatible to their positions”.
Accordingly,the Nigerian government said it “will not hesitate to identify and deal with erring missions,who fail to respect Nigeria’s sensitivities and sovereignty.
“Some Ambassadors and their diplomats have continued to make comments on political issues that amount to undue interference on Nigeria’s internal affairs. This is incompatible to the status of diplomatic missions or agent,” Ashiru added
via nigerianeye
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