December 17, 2007: Amnesty International revealed that secret executions have been taking place in Nigeria’s prisons, despite recent assurances by the government that Nigeria has not executed “in years.”
The organization uncovered evidence of at least seven executions in the last two years, but fears more may have taken place. All of the executions took place by hanging.
All those executed were convicted in a Kano state court and relocated to prisons across the country, including Jos, Kaduna and Enugu. Their death warrants were all signed by the current Kano state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau.
On 30 May 2006, Kenneth Ekhone and Auwalu Musa were executed by hanging in Kaduna Central Prison. They were tried and convicted by a Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, but did not have lawyers throughout the proceedings. They were also not given an opportunity to appeal against the judgements. Until his death, Auwalu Musa denied he had anything to do with the crime.
On 15 June 2006, Salisu Babuga was transferred from Kaduna prison to Jos prison, where he was hanged.
At least four men were hanged in Enugu prison in 2006. The organization also believes that at least one execution has taken place in Port Harcourt prison.
Amnesty International is continuing to investigate in order to confirm the names of those executed and the dates of the executions.
Source: Amnesty International, 17/12/2007
