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Delta State Lawmaker Upholds Death Penalty Law

The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, has said that the capital punishment law passed in the state is achieving its … Continue reading Delta State Lawmaker Upholds Death Penalty Law


Victor OcheiThe Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, has said that the capital punishment law passed in the state is achieving its deterrence purpose.

On Channels Television’s programme, Sunrise Daily, on Monday, the Speaker said that since the law was passed the rate of kidnapping the state had reduced.

He pointed out that it was not possible to completely rid the society of crime, but emphasised that such laws were necessary to put a check to crime and ensure security of lives and property.

“The capital punishment has achieved its aim of deterrence and putting the law in place is just an extra mile we had to go to put deterrence to crime.

He explained that the law did not only recommend death penalty but also had other intricacies that would involve everybody in the state in making sure that the communities were secured.

“Part of the law, as passed by the State House of Assembly, stipulates that the owner of any building used by kidnappers to keep hostages would lose the house if the suspected kidnappers were found guilty.

“Security is for everybody and traditional rulers have been tasked with ensuring that communities under their control identify individuals living in the communities,” he explained.

On the issue of Crude Oil Theft, which has gained international interest as it was cutting deep into Nigeria’s revenue, Mr Ochei stated that the State Assembly could not mad laws that would check the trend, saying that “issues on Crude Oil are exclusive to the National Assembly”.

The speaker, however, stressed the need to breakdown the exclusive list to allow the state handle issues that directly affect it.

The Governor of the State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, had at an investors meeting in London few days ago, called on stakeholders in the oil sector to assist in checking Crude Oil Theft, explaining that only experts with vast knowledge in mining could be involved in the crime.