Some civil society organisations on Thursday
described the conviction of two policemen involved the killing of six traders
in Apo, Abuja in 2005 as victory for tenacity and democracy.
Justice Ishaq Bello,
Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sentenced
Emmanuel Baba and Ezekiel Acheneje to death on Thursday over the killing of
Anthony Nwokike, Tina Arebun and Ifeanyi Ozo.
The other traders
murdered by the convicted cops along with their two other colleagues, Danjuma
Ibrahim and Othman Abdulsalami (at large) and one deceased, were Chinedu
Meniru, Isaac Ekene, Paulinus Ogbonna.
The deceased were said to have been shot dead on the orders of another police officer, at a popular night club, the only female victim, Tina, turned down a senior police officer’s love advances at the club.
Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform (PER) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the judgment showed that the judiciary could stand up expediently to deliver justice.
The deceased were said to have been shot dead on the orders of another police officer, at a popular night club, the only female victim, Tina, turned down a senior police officer’s love advances at the club.
Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform (PER) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the judgment showed that the judiciary could stand up expediently to deliver justice.
Nwagwu said that death
sentence on the police officers was well-deserved, adding that it was a show of
perseverance by the public.
“This judgment symbolised
what perseverance and doggedness can do. When citizens don’t give up on the
pursuit of justice, they are likely going to get the results that they desire.
“It was because the
`Apo six’ issues were not allowed to die that we were able to get the kind the
result we had today.
“So, it is victory for
doggedness, perseverance and victory for democracy as well as justice to the
ordinary person,’’ he said.
He urged Nigerians to
stay strong on what they believed and what was right, saying “when advocacy is
very strong on any matter, the desired result will be achieved’’.
Mr Frank Tietie,
President, Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), said the
judgment was a welcomed development for the nation’s democracy and portended
safety of life of the common man.
He said that the spate
of taking citizens’ lives illegally by law enforcement agents had been on the
rise, but that the judgment by Justice Bello would send a strong message to
perpetrators.
“This will trigger a
sense of respect for lives to all Nigerians, especially the arms-bearing law
enforcement agents, that when they deprive anyone the fundamental right to life
as provided in Section 33 of the Constitution, there is penalty.
“They would be punished
and be possibly given the death penalty as in this case.
“Nigeria is one of the
countries that still retain the death penalty. This is underscored by the value
of human life in Nigeria.
“Therefore, anyone who
takes the life of another deliberately and in cold blood must also be deprived
of his or her life.
“However worrisome is
the length of time it took to dispense with the case. In an act of crime which
took place as far back as 2005, it has taken about 12 years just at the court
of first instance to give judgment,’’ Tietie said.
He urged the judiciary
to step up its judgment, especially in cases that had to do with taking the
life of another deliberately in cold blood and ensure that anybody involved
should also be deprived of his or her own life.
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