The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary or Summary Executions, Mr. Christof Heyns, has said that “appropriate
actions, including communication to the government of President
Goodluck Jonathan is being considered regarding the imminent execution
of 54 soldiers in Nigeria.”
This followed a petition to
Heyns by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, in
December 2014 in which the group asked five UN human rights independent
experts to individually and jointly use their “good offices and
positions to urgently request the Nigerian government and its military
authorities not to carry out the mass death sentences imposed on 54
Nigerian soldiers for what the government claimed was disobeying a
direct order from their commanding officer.”
The development was disclosed by SERAP’s Executive Director, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, in a statement, yesterday.
He
said: “SERAP has been in discussion with Johel Dominique at the Office
of the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary or Summary
Executions both on the telephone and via email. Johel Dominique has
confirmed that the Special Rapporteur is considering appropriate action
to avert the imminent execution of 54 soldiers on death row in the
country.
“We have also confirmed to the Special Rapporteur that
SERAP has the consent of Mr Femi Falana, SAN, the legal counsel to the
54 soldiers to file the petition.
“SERAP welcomes the
decision by Mr. Christof Heyns to intervene in the matter. Given his
longstanding human rights commitment and achievements, we have
absolutely no doubt that Mr Heyns will work assiduously to ensure that
justice is done in this matter and we wish him well as he strives to do
that.”
SERAP had in a petition dated December 23, 2014
and addressed to five special rapporteurs stated: “It is not right or
fair to try everyone in mass proceedings, and that such unfair trial
should not send someone to the gallows.”
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