27 Death Row Prisoners Drag FG to Court

Twenty-seven Nigerians on death row at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons have dragged the Federal and Lagos State Governments to court over their prolonged stay awaiting the hangman.
In separate actions filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos by their counsel, Mr. Femi Falana, the plaintiffs are challenging the constitutionality of keeping them on death row for periods ranging from 10-24 years.
Details of the suit were not too clear last night.
But, according to a statement by Falana, the 27 condemned prisoners are praying the court to convert their death sentences to terms of imprisonment as the government has lost the will to execute them.
They alleged that they had been subjected to mental and psychological trauma for several years while waiting in vain for the hangman.
The prisoners are as follows: Mohammed Jinjiri, Lukman Ajibola, Olatunji Olaide, Taofiki Ojewale, Morufu Yusuff, Moshood Oladipupo, Olusola Adepetu, Sikiru Oyinlola Sgt. Pal Fatoriji and Lolade Babalola Akingbola.
Others are Ishmael Azubuike, Ibrahim Aliyu, Abiodun Odediran, James Ajulo, Mathew Johnson, Boluwaji Ogundare, Semiu Afolabi, Funsho Olanipekun, Musiliu Sulaiman, Wasiu Abass, Adeniyi Ayinla, Asimiyu Babatunde, Olabisi Ogunlowo, Michael Omosumofia, Zuberu Adburama, Julius Awe and Alfa Mukaila Salawu.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the cases.

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