NIGERIA: DEATH ROW PRISONERS FREED IN LAGOS STATE

August 26, 2009: in Nigeria, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola granted an amnesty on "humanitarian grounds" to three prisoners sentenced to death and released them.
A further 37 death row inmates in Lagos state had their sentences commuted by the state governor, including 29 who will now face life imprisonment.
"This is a step forward for human rights in Lagos," said Aster van Kregten, Amnesty International's Nigeria researcher.  Fashola said that he wanted to give the prisoners "hope of changing their behaviours and [being] rehabilitated into society".
While no death row prisoner from Lagos state has been executed for over ten years, death sentences continue to be imposed. The state will review its Criminal Code later this year. (Sources: Amnesty International, 26/08/2009)