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Thread: Nigeria

  1. #1
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    Nigeria

    Four suspected members of a radical Islamist sect have been charged with orchestrating a suicide bombing on United Nations headquarters in the Nigerian capital last month that killed at least 23 people. They face the death penalty if found guilty.

    The men were among 19 brought to a magistrates court in Abuja on Friday accused of carrying out separate attacks as members of Boko Haram, an Islamist group blamed for almost daily shootings and bombings in the remote northeast.

    The group, whose name translates to "Western education is forbidden" in the local Hausa language spoken in northern Nigeria, has shown its menace with a bombing in the police headquarters car park in Abuja in June and the U.N. strike.

    "You Salisu Mohammed, Musa Mukailu, Danzumi Haruna and Abdusalami Adamu of Kano state conspired among yourselves and sent a suicide bomber in (Honda car) loaded with explosives who forcefully drove into United Nations House Abuja and detonated the explosives killing 25 persons," prosecutors told the court.

    The United Nations has confirmed 23 people dead and more than 100 wounded.

    The defendants made no pleas because the court said the case was beyond its jurisdiction and ordered that it be sent to the Federal High Court for a hearing on November 3.

    Another man was charged with his part in a New Year's Eve bomb attack on an army barracks bar in Abuja, which killed at least four people.

    The other defendants were accused of carrying out bomb attacks in the northern state of Bauchi or for possessing firearms, explosives and conspiring in terrorism.

    Nigeria's population of more than 140 million is split roughly equally between a largely Muslim north and a mostly Christian south.

    Boko Haram, which wants Islamic sharia law more widely applied across Africa's most populous nation, does not have the support of the majority of Nigerian Muslims.

    http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nat...tory?track=rss

  2. #2
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    Nigeria

    Nigeria backs law to jail all gays and those who hide them

    Nigeria’s lawmakers have approved plans to jail people for being gay and even imprison people who don’t report homosexuals they know about to the police.

    The west African nation already makes gay sex illegal and even punishable by the death penalty in the north part of the country but the new legislation goes much further.

    Under the proposed law that has passed both the Senate and, this week, the House of Representatives there would be a crackdown on LGBT people which could lead to a witch-hunt.

    Openly gay people would be imprisoned whether or not they have sex and LGBT organizations would be criminalized.

    Anyone who knows somebody who is gay would have to tell the authorities or they could go to jail for five years.

    Gay marriage would be punished by 14 years prison for the couple and 10 for anyone else involved in the ceremony. Even wedding guests could be jailed.

    And ‘any person who directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationships’ would get a 10-year sentence.

    The Nigerian House of Representatives approved the bill, already voted through the Senate, on a second reading this week.

    Speaking about same-sex marriage during the debate, house majority leader Mulikat Adeola-Akande said: ‘It is alien to our society and culture and it must not be imported. Religion abhors it and our culture has no place for it.’

    And minority leader Femi Gbajabiamila also backed the bill saying gay marriage ‘is both illegal and immoral’.

    But Nigerian gay activist and Gay Star News contributor Bisi Alimi said this was really about politicians trying to gain popular support in the highly religious country.

    He said: ‘Nigerian LGBT community has never asked for marriage so there is no basis to ask for an anti same-sex marriage bill. This is just a voting winning political agenda.

    The bill is now being reviewed on a clause-by-clause basis. After that stage it will return for a final vote in parliament before being signed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Experts have told GSN that Jonathan is a weak president unlikely to veto the legislation. However, even if he does veto, the Senate and House of Representatives can still vote again to push the legislation through.

    Despite this, the legislation may not actually be in the long-term interests of the country’s political leaders. Some have suggested the bill may be used by unscrupulous politicians to smear their opponents by accusing them of being gay, and therefore destroying their careers.

    The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIER) in Nigeria has condemned the proposed law.

    Olumide Makanjuola, director of programs, said: ‘It is unfortunate that the argument presented by the legislature is invalid, illogical and unethical in democratic politics.

    ‘Nigeria is secular state and still remains as such. Therefore, religion should have no stake in law making in the country. Unfortunately, this is what we get!

    ‘This is unfortunate modern day democracy, where equity and justice is non-negotiable. It is unacceptable for the state to interfere in privacy of lives that pose no threat to statehood.’

    TIER is among those worried the bill could stop or damage the work of organizations fighting AIDS in the country.

    They have called on the National Human Rights Commission to intervene by raising concerns with legislators.

    Nigeria’s move comes as Uganda also presses ahead with it’s own Kill The Gay’s Bill. While the two laws do have some similarities, Nigeria’s move towards this legislation actually predates Uganda’s from 2006.

    However it may be the Uganda parliament’s pledge to push their bill through as ‘a Christmas present’ for its supporters has encouraged Nigeria to think its proposals will have support on the other side of Africa.

    http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/n...ide-them151112
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    Nigerian state hangs 4 convicted criminals

    Traumatized inmates heard screams and thuds from the gallows as Nigerian authorities Monday hanged four convicted criminals in the West African nation's first known executions since 2006, a human rights lawyer said.

    A fifth man at Benin City Prison was briefly saved when the executioner had technical problems with the gallows, Chino Obiagwu of the national lawyers' rights group LEPAD told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

    But he later forwarded an email from someone in the prison saying that man had been taken to the gallows, and "the sound of the gallows is heard, we believe execution has been done, is over." There was no way to immediately verify that information.

    Attorney General Henry Idahagbon of southern Edo state confirmed the four executions, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported.

    Amnesty International's deputy Africa director, Lucy Freeman, said the hangings would mark "a truly dark day for human rights" in Africa's most populous nation.

    Obiagwu said the men were hanged despite pending suits at the appeal court and had been on death row for 16 years. He said two were his clients, convicted of murder, but he did not know for what crimes the others had been sentenced.

    "Under Nigerian laws, an appeal and application for stay of execution should restrain further action … By executing the prisoners, Nigeria's government has demonstrated a gross disregard to the rule of law and respect for the judicial process," he said.

    Amnesty International said more than 1,000 people are reportedly on death row in Nigeria, a country of some 160 million people.

    Obiagwu said a court dismissed his organization's appeal challenging the state government's signing of execution warrants and a motion to stop executions. That was around 3 p.m.

    "They (authorities) had already started preparing for the executions, they turned us away from the prison and by 6:15 p.m. we heard from clients (in the prison) that they had been executed."

    He said traumatized inmates called him to describe "terrible sounds" like a drum rolling, shackles scratching and the screams of those condemned begging for mercy.

    "The death row prisoners in the suit contend that to execute them after over 16 years of trauma, suspense and imminent death would amount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment," Obiagwu said.

    He identified those hanged as Chima Ejiofor, Daniel Nsofor, Osarenmwinda Aiguokhan and Richard Igagu. The fifth man was identified as Thankgod Ebhos.

    LEPAD has taken legal action to prevent executions since all Nigeria's state governors said in March 2011 they wanted to resume them. A suit was filed on behalf of all death row inmates.

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/w...inals/2454057/
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  4. #4
    Senior Member CnCP Legend JimKay's Avatar
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    Obiagwu said the men were hanged despite pending suits at the appeal court and had been on death row for 16 years. He said two were his clients, convicted of murder, but he did not know for what crimes the others had been sentenced.

    "Under Nigerian laws, an appeal and application for stay of execution should restrain further action … By executing the prisoners, Nigeria's government has demonstrated a gross disregard to the rule of law and respect for the judicial process," he said.

    --------------

    "The death row prisoners in the suit contend that to execute them after over 16 years of trauma, suspense and imminent death would amount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment," Obiagwu said.


    Mr. Obiagwu wants time to appeal, but the time thus granted makes the condemned ineligible?! Alternate universes do exist after all.

  5. #5
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    Death Row Prisoner In Nigeria Set To Be Executed By Firing Squad


    Amnesty International says a death row prisoner in Nigeria is due to be executed by firing squad later this week after prison authorities dragged him to the gallows where they hanged four other men on Monday night.

    They were the first known executions in the country since 2006, which the European Union slammed as "the most regrettable setback to Nigeria's human rights record."

    Benin Prison authorities in Edo state had planned to hang the man along with the four others, but halted his execution after they realized his death sentence, imposed by a military tribunal, required that a firing squad carry it out.

    Amnesty says that neither the prisoners nor their families were told of the executions in advance. Secret executions, where prisoners, families and lawyers are not informed beforehand, violate international standards on the use of the death penalty, according to the London-based rights watchdog.

    "Cruel and inhumane do not even begin to describe the nightmare situation facing this man - and it points to the spectacularly brutal nature of Nigeria's sudden return to state-sponsored killing," said Lucy Freeman, Deputy Africa Director at Amnesty.

    She called on the Nigerian authorities to immediately halt all executions and return to the moratorium on the death penalty that was previously in place.

    The four men hanged at Benin Prison still had appeals pending in their cases. Their executions came only hours after a Federal High Court dismissed a lawsuit against three of the execution warrants. The Edo state Attorney-General and the prison authorities ignored an appeal and application for stay of execution filed immediately after the judgment. By executing the prisoners, Nigeria has demonstrated a gross disregard for the rule of law and respect for the judicial process, Amnesty said.

    The fifth man, sentenced by military tribunal, was never able to appeal his original sentence because military tribunals at the time denied defendants the right to appeal - itself a violation of fair trial standards and international law.

    Under Nigerian and international law, executions may not be carried out against pending appeals.

    He has been on death row for 17 years, and was sentenced to death by a military tribunal during the military rule in Nigeria before the return to democracy in 1999. Amnesty has raised serious doubts about the fairness of trials during that period.

    Of the more than 1,000 people currently on death row in the country, scores of others were also sentenced by military tribunals before 1999.

    "That Nigeria has resumed executions for sentences passed by military tribunals only amplifies the disregard for human rights," said Freeman.

    "At a time when West Africa and the world are moving away from the death penalty, it is very worrying that Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan defies the clear international trend and has instead encouraged a step backwards for human rights," she added.

    Earlier this month, Jonathan urged State Governors to sign death warrants for death row prisoners - which in effect allows Federal prison authorities to proceed with executions of inmates who are held at state prisons.

    The European Union came out strongly against the execution of four prisoners in Edo.

    "This represents a break of a seven-year moratorium on the death penalty and is a most regrettable setback to Nigeria's human rights record," EU Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton said in statement on Tuesday.

    "It goes against the commitment repeatedly made by the Nigerian authorities, most recently at the EU-Nigeria human rights dialogue held in Abuja in March and at the annual Ministerial meeting in Brussels in May 2013, to maintain the de facto moratorium on executions," she added.

    The High Representative said while she recognizes the serious nature of the crimes involved, executions can never be justified. She reiterated the longstanding opposition of the European Union to the use of the death penalty.

    Ashton urged the Nigerian authorities to refrain from further executions and direct State Governors not to sign execution warrants. She called on Nigeria to join the strong abolitionist trend which prevails on the African continent. Nigeria has also been urged to amend its legislation in order to end the use of the death penalty as sole sentence for a number of crimes.

    http://www.rttnews.com/2141740/death...mpaign=sitemap
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

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  6. #6
    Weidmann1939
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    She called on Nigeria to join the strong abolitionist trend which prevails on the African continent.
    "Strong abolitionist trend." is a mantra chanted over and over again, yet one country after another in the last year has resumed Executions. Kuwait, Taiwan, Indonesia, Nigeria, India, Pakistan. The facts tell a different story.
    Last edited by Weidmann1939; 06-26-2013 at 10:36 PM.

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    18 soldiers get death, jail terms over Boko Haram

    FOR their alleged links to Boko Haram, some soldiers are to face death penalty while others will go to jail. Those affected are one lieutenant, one warrant officer and 16 others. The General Court Martial has been trying them since July 1, this year.

    They were accused of offences ranging from communicating with Boko Haram members, cowardly behaviour, murder, to manslaughter. They were being tried by the Three Armoured Division as the case fell within its Area of Responsibility (AOR).

    A military source said that those soldiers who were sentenced to death actually deserved the sentence because “for serving soldiers who swore to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria and Nigerians therein to be found conniving with the enemies of Nigeria (Boko Haram) is a treasonable offence which attracts capital punishment.

    “The Boko Haram members do not hide their sinister agenda. They want to destabilise the country. Everybody knows that. For soldiers to now secretly work with them at the expense of the country is treasonable. And it is so treated.”

    Contacted for comments, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the Division, Col. Texas Chukwu, told The Guardian Sunday that he was preparing a formal speech in this regard, and that this might be made public today.

    At the inauguration of the Court Martial on July 1, 2013, where all the 18 accused military personnel were arraigned, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Armoured Division, Jos, Maj.-Gen. Ebiobowei Bonna Awala, remarked that the accused soldiers facing the court martial were from the Three Armoured Division, Joint Task Force (JTF), otherwise known as Operation Restore Order from Maiduguri and Special Task Force (STF), known as Operation Safe Haven, from Plateau State. He said that the soldiers had been duly investigated for the various offences they were alleged to have committed.

    According to Awala, the General Court Martial is one of those instruments conferred on him by virtue of Armed Forces Act Chapter A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria to address problems of this nature. He pointed out that discipline is the foundation on which the military career rests, adding that discipline and loyalty are two essential requirements no person who wants to succeed in professional soldiering can afford to lack.

    “It is the duty of superiors to observe, correct and instantly deal with negligence or any misconduct on the part of subordinates. When there is any breach, it is expected that appropriate disciplinary measure must be taken by commanders to forestall future occurrences. This way, the Nigerian Army can continue to play its constitutional role and sustain its accolade as the pride of the nation.

    “It is with a heavy heart though, that I have to convene this General Court Martial, being the first within four months of my assumption of duty as the GOC of this Division. However, I must state that if this division is witnessing this court martial, it is because I want to sustain high level of professionalism required to confront the mounting security challenges in the division’s area of responsibility.”

    The GOC had admonished all parties to the Court Martial to discharge their duties expeditiously and with a degree of commitment that would enable the accused persons know their fate in good time.

    As the Court Martial finished with the first batch of offenders, it was learnt that fresh offenders were being arraigned before the court.

    http://www.osundefender.org/?p=121522
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    3 Men Sentenced To Death By Hanging In Kwara State For Stealing N50,000

    The death sentence handed out to three men in Kwara state for stealing N50,000 has been upheld by the Supreme court.

    The convicts, identified as Kayode Babarinde, Akeem Haruna and Yusuf Nurudeen, had earlier been sentenced to death by hanging by the Kwara State High Court and the Ilorin Division of the Court of Appeal.

    The three convicts were charged before the Kwara state High Court in Ilorin on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery contrary to section 97 of the Penal Code and Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap. R 11 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The trio was alleged to have robbed Mrs. Ruth Alabi of the sum of N50,000, threatening her with a locally made pistol at Baba Oloya Street, Jebba, on August 18, 2007. Each of the accused persons pleaded not guilty to each count of the charge.

    The high court found each of the accused persons guilty as charged on each of the counts. They were sentenced on September 26, 2009, for two years of imprisonment on the count of conspiracy and death by hanging on the count of armed robbery.

    Dissatisfied with their conviction and sentence, the trio appealed to the Court of Appeal in Ilorin, but their appeal was dismissed.
    Still dissatisfied, they appealed to the Supreme Court.

    In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, their appeal was found to be unmeritorous and was therefore dismissed.

    “I find no reason to disturb the said finding and conclusions of the lower court. In effect the appeal lacks merit and is hereby dismissed,” the Justice said.

    http://www.360nobs.com/2013/12/3-men...ealing-n50000/
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    Convict Sentenced to Death Immediately Tries to Kill Himself

    A Katsina State High Court sitting in Malumfashi on Friday sentenced one Aminu Ibrahim of Rogo Local Government in Kano State to death by hanging, for armed robbery.

    The offence was committed on Sept. 2011 on Kafur-Malumfashi road, where victims were robbed of their valuables.

    In his Judgement, Justice Abas Bawale held that the prosecution had succeeded in proving its case beyond reasonable doubt and that witnesses had established before the court that Ibrahim was arrested at the scene of the crime during which one of his accomplices was shot dead while others escaped.

    The court, therefore, dismissed efforts to discountenance the testimonies of witnesses by the defence counsel, Mr A.I. Radda, and sentenced the convict to death by hanging.

    The convict, on hearing the verdict, immediately attempted to commit suicide in the court's cell room using an iron bar.

    He was, however, overpowered by prison warders who struggled with him for minutes before pinning him down and dragging him into a waiting vehicle.

    http://www.nigerianbulletin.com/thre.../#.Ur2WuPtjLz6
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    “I will sign death warrant” – Governor Aliyu

    Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger on Wednesday said he would sign the death warrant of any person sentenced to death by courts in the state.

    Aliyu made the statement in Minna when Alhaji Abubakar Falke, Assistant Comptroller of Prisons in charge of Zone `D’ comprising Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, Sokoto, Zamfara and FCT commands paid him a courtesy visit.

    He told the comptroller to forward the list of convicts in the state who were on death row.

    “Let me know how many inmates are on death row in Niger State and I will sign the death warrant because it is my job,” he said, adding “believe me, I will sign if there is anybody on the row’’.

    He, however, urged individuals and society to treat prison inmates and ex-convicts well so as to assist them to resume normal life.

    According to the governor, it is not good for inmates to come out of jail as hardened criminals, instead of being reformed.

    The governor advised prison authorities to collaborate with the State Government to ensure the welfare of prisoners.

    He promised to provide vehicles to the prison command in the state to ease movement of inmates to court.

    Falke disclosed that the number of inmates in the eight prisons in the state was 1,039, adding that out of the number, 442 had been convicted while 597 were awaiting trial.

    He said that the prison command in the state had only six vehicles for its eight formations and 155 courts.

    The comptroller appealed to the governor to assist the command with vehicles, adding however, that no convicted person of Niger origin was serving jail term in the state. (NAN)

    http://dailypost.com.ng/2014/02/12/w...overnor-aliyu/
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