Lagos May Execute Rev. King, Others On Death Row Soon
Fresh indications have emerged that Lagos State Government may soon execute the General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, CPA, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, also known as Reverend King, and others on death row in Lagos prisons to act deterrence to criminally minded people.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem who hinted on it at a ministerial press conference held on Tuesday in Lagos said the state government was reviewing the matter and would make a decision soon.
According to Kazeem he recently visited prisons in the state on the instruction of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode where prison officials drew his attention to the highhandedness of those on death row now fighting over titles in the prisons.
He said the prison officials complained bitterly about this and wanted the government to take action to remedy the situation, saying the condemned prisoners felt that they had certain rights which excluded them from being executed.
Kazeem said, “Very soon, you will see the action of this government on that issue. We are reviewing the case of Rev. King and others on death roll.”
The Commissioner for Justice noted that though previous administrations did not deemed it fit to sign documents for the execution of convicts on death row the Ambode led government was considering signing the documents to execute those on death row.
Kazeem said, “Lots of people are on death row. Rev. King is not the only one on death row, it is on the instruction of Ambode that I visited the prisons recently and I discussed the issue with the prison officials and they expressed concern.
“We are moving in that direction of signing. The prison officials said we need to look at that seriously. Those on death row are beginning to think they have some rights. We are going to move in that direction, you will hear from me, but I will not tell you the exact date.”
The Supreme court had on 27 February, 2016 upheld the judgment of the Appeal Court which passed death penalty on King, saying the condemned cleric must die by hanging.
Reacting to question on the issue of Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha, the Attorney General revealed that the state government had re-opened the case, pointing out that government was putting machinery in motion to ensure that justice was done on the matter.
