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NIGERIA
‘WAITING FOR THE HANGMAN’
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APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1: KEY FINDINGS OF THE NATIONAL STUDY GROUP
ON DEATH PENALTY, 2004
On 22 October 2004, the report of the National Study Group on Death Penalty was
presented to Chief Akin Olujinmi, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
The key findings included:
“It was the perception of participating government agencies and the public that crime has
increased throughout Nigeria. It is obvious that this perception of high crime rate has caused
widespread feelings of fear and insecurity.”
“Noteworthy is also the feeling that the police force was losing the fight against crime”
“Many of participants blamed the high crime rate on the inefficiency of the criminal justice
system which does not act as a deterrent to crime.”
“In general the study group found that the death penalty was widely seen as a solution to
the widely perceived failure of the criminal justice system.”
“A key finding of the study group was the high level of cynicism among justice sector
stakeholders on the ability and political will on the part of the Federal government of Nigeria
to undertake the necessary far reaching reforms that are required in the administration
of justice.”
“They point to the several initiatives that have been undertaken in this sector [the justice
sector] including the report of many high level committees which has not been implemented.”
“In summary it is our opinion that there is much disturbing evidence that Nigerians cannot
rely on the current criminal justice system to produce results that are either fair or accurate.”
“Specifically the police are generally seen as corrupt, repressive and ineffective. The
prisons are staffed by poorly paid, inadequately motivated and insufficiently trained officials.
Judicial officers particularly of the lower court are generally overworked, underpaid and lack
Index: AFR 44/020/2008 Amnesty International October 2008