Ogun State Government has vowed not to grant pardons to convicts of ritual killings, kidnapping, or sexual offenses, while emphasizing careful deliberation in executing death sentences.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN, disclosed these measures during an exclusive interview on Frontline, Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, on Friday.
He explained that the state intends to carry out only the most serious death penalty cases, reviewing others for possible redemption due to the irreversible nature of capital punishment.
“Because of the finality of the death penalty, we want to isolate cases where the sentence must be carried out as pronounced by the court of law. We do not want to rush this process,” Ogungbade said, noting that the last executions in the state were in 2002.
He clarified that the review process does not involve reopening cases but rather assessing the severity and premeditation of crimes. “Some crimes, like a planned ritual killing or child abduction, leave no room for leniency. But in cases where a person caused death in a fit of anger, they may not pose a societal danger if given another chance,” he stated.
Ogungbade further warned against sending conflicting signals on crime and mercy. “We do not want to send conflicting signals. Recognizing these crimes as prevalent means we cannot grant pardon to those who have committed them,” he said.
On addressing ritual killings, the Attorney General revealed that a new bill criminalizing the act has been finalized and will be submitted to the state House of Assembly within three weeks.
“Currently, suspects are charged under murder or corpse-persecution laws, which does not address the problem adequately. This new bill is the first of its kind in Nigeria and will strengthen deterrence,” Ogungbade explained.
The state reiterated its commitment to upholding the law while balancing justice and fairness. Convicted offenders of premeditated crimes like ritual killings and kidnapping face the full weight of the law, including capital punishment, while other cases will be carefully evaluated for possible redemption.
