WorldStage
Newsonline-- The Federal Government of Nigeria on Friday defended the
recent execution of four convicts in Edo State, the first since 2006,
and indicated that it would not be apologetic on its stance on same s-ex
marriage. Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru said at a Consultative Forum on
the forthcoming review of human rights in Nigeria under the UN Universal
Period Review (UPR) in Abuja, that executions in Edo would likely come
up when the country appears before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva
in October for a periodic review of its human rights.
Condemnations
had trailed the June 24 execution of four convicts in Edo State as the
UK Government, UN and the EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton among
others said it negated recent commitment repeatedly made by Nigerian
officials to maintain the de facto moratorium on executions. However,
Ashiru told journalists that the execution would not act as an
impediment to “’tremendous improvements” by government on human rights
issues in the country, saying those accusing Nigeria of human rights
violations should remember that the criminal code was inherited from the
‘colonial powers. He
noted that in Nigeria, State Governments are autonomous and for the
execution in Edo, Gov. Adams Oshiomole acted within the confines of the
law.
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