The Ogun State Government has announced that it is considering signing the death warrants of condemned criminals sentenced by competent courts as a deterrent to those who may commit heinous crimes in the state.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), made this known on Friday after inspecting inmates and facilities at the Correctional Centre in Ibara, Abeokuta.
Mr. Ogungbade, who was escorted by officers of the Centre, expressed concern over the increase in criminal activities such as ritual killings, kidnapping, cultism, and other serious crimes in the state.
According to Mr. Ogungbade, the state government is prepared to take decisive action by implementing the law through the signing of death warrants.
He noted that despite the proactive measures taken by security agencies to combat crime, certain offenses, particularly ritual killings, have not diminished. He added that the government has identified the misconception that there will be no repercussions for committing these crimes as a root cause of the issue.
“I can assure you that we are seriously considering ways to send a message that Ogun State is not a place where serious crimes can be committed with impunity.
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“The law currently states that a murder case attracts the death penalty, along with some other offenses. However, nationally, there has been reluctance on the part of state governments, especially since the advent of democratic rule, to sign death warrants. I assure you that we are now seriously committed to following the law to the letter.
“It is part of the governor’s duty to sign death warrants, and I am confident that when he took the oath of office, he understood the responsibilities that come with it. He is a governor who upholds the rule of law, so I can assure you that in deserving cases, he will not shy away from this constitutional duty.
“While I cannot provide a specific timeline, I can say that in deserving cases, which we are currently reviewing, it will happen.
“If someone has gone through a fair trial and exhausted all their appeals, we will seriously consider implementing those judgments, hoping that it will serve as a deterrent to others who may intend to commit such crimes. However, I assure you that we will approach this systematically and not recklessly.”
He stated that the current administration has made significant efforts in granting amnesty to those condemned to death by converting their death sentences into life imprisonment, reducing life sentences to fixed terms, and ensuring that punishments serve as deterrents.
The Commissioner attributed the rise in criminal activities to a complete breakdown of the value system and the support criminals receive from their families, which contrasts with the African belief system that condemns criminal behavior and seeks punishment for offenders.
“In the past, when people committed crimes, their family members would often alert law enforcement. However, today, families tend to shield those who have committed crimes. Unless we undergo a total reappraisal of our value system, we will continue to face this problem. We need to return to family values,” he added.
The Attorney General stated that his visit to the Correctional Centre aimed to assess the conditions of the inmates and the facilities, with the goal of ensuring that the Centre operates as intended and that inmates do not endure unnecessary suffering.