Senator Adams Oshiomhole has criticised Nigerian judges for their alleged leniency in handling terrorism cases, claiming death penalties are reduced to 20-year jail terms.
The senator raised the concern on Wednesday during the Senate’s debate on the state of insecurity in Nigeria.
Oshiomhole wondered why judges allegedly disregard clear statutory provisions on terrorism offences.
“How can an offence that carries a death penalty, a judge reduce it to 20 years in prison? That is not acceptable. He has violated the laws passed by the parliament,” he asked.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio then asked, “Has this happened in Nigeria already?”
Oshiomhole replied, “It has. Somebody convicted of terrorism was sentenced to 20 years in prison, when the law says an act of terrorism, if convicted, shall attract death penalty. No judge has the right to pronounce less than that.”
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The Edo North senator said judges must follow the law and not sentiments.
“It is only when you have implemented the law, interpreted the law, not the sentiment of a judge, and the will of the people as conveyed in the law, then the president can decide if there are reasons for him to do so, whether to commute or reduce,” he added.
Oshiomhole expressed concern about inconsistent rulings delivered by various courts and questioned why self-defence cases sometimes attract harsher punishments than terrorism convictions.
“I am troubled by the conflicting judgments by various high court judges. Somebody allegedly kills someone who attacked him on the farm, and he was sentenced to death, but there is no evidence that those who attack and kill farmers are convicted or sentenced to death,” he said.
The senator insisted that such inconsistencies worsen national security concerns.
His remarks followed the recent sentencing of ISWAP commander Hussaini Ismaila.
A Federal High Court in Abuja jailed Ismaila for 20 years on November 19 after he pleaded guilty and showed remorse.
The court ordered his sentences to run concurrently, giving him a maximum of 20 years.
