Lagos working on signing death warrant for Rev Kings, others

Lagos State Government has said it is seriously working on signing death warrant, for the execution of the General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, popularly called Reverend King as well as other murder convicts in the state.

It will be recalled that the Supreme Court recently, Okays the judgment on Ezeugo who was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging on January 11, 2007, for the alleged murder of his church member, Ann Uzoh.

Lagos State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, who disclosed this Tuesday while briefing journalists, at the flag off of the yearly ministerial press conference, said it has become necessary for the government to look at the issues considering that some convicts on death row are beginning to demand for certain rights, since they feel that no action will be taking.

“This government is very strong on law and order. And the case is one of those that is under review. Like him, many others are on death row. And very soon, residents of Lagos will see the action of the government on it.

“There are lots of people on death row. There are some states that have been active in enforcing the judgement. I know that many had zeroed on Rev. King. I discussed his issues actively with the prison authority during my recent prison visit and it was on the instruction of the State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. That showed that it is a sensitive issue.

“I have given you indication that we are moving towards that direction. The previous governors of this state have not signed (papers) any of those death sentence. But the prison authority had informed that some of the convicts on death row are beginning to think they have some rights. We are going to move in that direction, you will hear from me,” he said.

The commissioner also informed that the government has re- opened the case of Hamzat Al Mustapha, who was allegedly fingered in the murder of the late Kudirat Abiola.
He said the government is putting machinery in motion to ensure that justice was done on the matter.

He said ministry through its directorate of legislative Drafting and the law reform Commission has been involved in the drafting, amendment and reforms of laws and regulations sponsored in collaboration with the House of Assembly and other ministries departments and Agencies.
He said a total of 14 bills were passed into law while 12 are currently undergoing drafting process.
Kazeem listed some of those laws enacted that has impacted positively in the lives of residence, to include the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund law, 2016, kidnapping law, 2016, State Environmental protection and Management law2017 among others.

He revealed that a total of 750,000 newly introduced criminal suspect forms was handed over to the state police command in the month of March in order to ease justice delivery, help record keeping and intelligence gathering of criminals in the state.

He said the government is working on the establishment of a DNA forensic centre adding that the centre will be geared towards enabling proper investigation, prosecution of crimes, adjudication and the administration of justice in the state.

He also added that the ministry obtained judgment in defilement matters, ranging
7 years, 10 years, 15 years imprisonment respectively.