The federal government hopes to engage state governments to review the death penalty in the nation’s laws.
Speaking when he took his turn at the on-going ministerial platform, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, a senior advocate of Nigeria explained that since the country is a federation, the federal government cannot compel states to do away with death penalty.
Adoke observed that the global debate on the desirability or otherwise, of its abolition has not assumed a momentum to command global agreement on death penalty abolition.
He expressed optimism that when the time comes, the laws would be amended to provide an alternative to death penalty.
President Goodluck Jonathan had directed state governors to exercise their constitutional rights by signing death warrants of death row inmates in order to reduce the rising level of criminality in the country.
Four death row inmates have been hanged by officers of the Nigeria Prison Service in Edo state. The inmates were convicted of crimes ranging from murder, rape to armed robbery.
