Human Rights Watch Condemns Zoom Death Sentence in Nigeria

Zoom Death Sentence in Nigeria

One of its first online court rulings on an inmate imprisoned for murder in Nigeria has been condemned by the Human Rights Watch. According to BBC, HRW does not oppose the ruling by the court in Nigeria via Zoom, they oppose the death sentence.

Olalekan Hameed, a driver was sentenced to die by hanging by Mojisola Dada, Lagos Judge. He is in prison murdering his boss’s 76-year-old mother Jolasun Okunsanya in December 2018.

The driver had pleaded not guilty.

Human Rights Watch said that the judiciary is acting inaccurately in sentencing a person to death by hanging. They also consider the system outdated being an irreversible punishment. With at least 2,000 people still on death row in Nigeria, Human Rights Watch calls the Zoom sentence “inherently cruel and inhuman.

The attorney general and other lawyers were virtually present in the three hours Zoom court ruling.

However, in the absence of state governors in Nigeria, death sentences are not approvable. This is according to the law of the country.

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Christina Ngene

Content creator focusing on finance and business with five years of experience and a foundation in forex analysis.

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