The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in Niger State, Barrister Nasiru Mua'azu has said that the government refused to sign the death warrant of Inmates on death rolls (IDR) `` because they appealed the High court judgment against their conviction"
He explained that those Convicted for culpable homicide and armed robbery related crimes by the High Court have the right of appeal in the court of appeal up to the Supreme Court and such appeal can take longer times.
He disclosed that the case that attract the death sentences upon conviction included culpable homicide, armed robbery and the most recent case of Anti kidnapping which was passed into law and signed by the immediate past governor of Niger state Abubakar Sani Bello.
He said the three capital offenses is triable by the High Court which has the Jurisdiction to try the cases and pass sentence upon conviction.
According to the Attorney General, those categories of inmates on death rolls that are still in detention were all waiting for the appeal court decision on their case which was responsible for their awaiting on death rolls.
The Attorney General stated this while Fielding questions from Journalists in his office in Minna pointed out that the convicts were entitled to appeal the High court judgment "and while the appeal is still ongoing their execution would not be carry out until such convict exhaust all avenues of appeal.
" The appeal can even last up to the supreme court. So long the appeal court has not decided on the case then the convicts will remain in detention until the final decision of the appeal court" he explained.
Speaking further, the Commissioner also noted that to avoid the miscarriage of justice against the apelante the appeal court can still order for the retrial of the High court judgment that convict the defendant
" To avoid the miscarriage of justice, the convict of culpable homicide, armed robbery and the most recent anti kidnapping law of Niger State they can still appeal their conviction.
" As a result of workloads in the appeal court and the supreme Court the appeal can take more longer times before their case can be determined and there is nothing to be done on such apelante until their case is determine " he added.
He said the issue of government refused to sign death warrants of inmates on death rolls (IDR) does not even arise. " Because like I said they are entitled to appeal their conviction by the High court to avoid miscarriage of justice"
