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— TransparencIT Nigeria (@TransparencITng) May 4, 2020
“This spike in death sentences puts Nigeria at odds with the global trend towards abolition of the death penalty,” Osai Ojigho Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, told AFP.
Charges
“As of today, many more countries have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice. Nigeria must not be different,” he said.
Hameed was arraigned in March last year on a two-count charge of murder and stealing. He pleaded not guilty.
On Monday, all the parties to the case, including the accused, lawyers, witnesses and journalists participated in the session remotely from different locations via the Zoom application.
FLASH: Lagos State Judiciary with Ministry of Justice recorded the first virtual court session to deliver the judgment of one Olalekan Hameed who was sentenced to death by hanging….. The Virtual Court Session is in line with the #COVID19Lagos directives. pic.twitter.com/kVbOeSKWLI
— Gawat Jubril A. (@Mr_JAGss) May 5, 2020
The new coronavirus has so far infected 2 802 and claimed 93 lives in Nigeria.
The bulk of the infections and fatalities occurred in Lagos and the nation’s capital Abuja, prompting President Muhammadu Buhari to impose a five-week lockdown on both cities.
The lockdown was relaxed on Monday to enable residents return to work but with strict instructions to comply with all restrictions and safety rules, including the mandatory wearing of face masks and social distancing.
Buhari has also called for speedy trial of cases as well as the decongestion of prisons and detention centres to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
He said 52 226 of the 74 127 prisoners in the country were awaiting trial.
