21/09/03

Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Dr. Anthony Okogie, has called on those supporting stoning sentence passed on Amina Lawal to see reason'.

In a statement by the Director, Social Communi-cations, Lagos Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Gabriel Osu, Okogie warned that the 1st and most fundamental right of human beings was the right to life.

He emphasised that no power on earth had the right to take innocent life, and reminded the Sharia Jurists that all creations subsisted in God.

Okogie pointed out that while government had the right and authority to punish offenders, promote the security of citizens, preserve lives and ensure good governance, it should not venture into blood letting in any form since God and the constitution.

He said there was no evidence that death penalties could reform criminals and other categories of offenders, advocating for life jail or other forms of punishment which not involving spilling of blood.

"Just as the government has the duty to punish criminals, prevention of crimes lies elsewhere other than in death penalty. The roots of crime are embedded in sin, poverty, deprived environment, broken homes, and alcoholism. I urged the government to address these issues before prescribing death sentences", Okogie said.

The Catholic archbishop said there was no argument as to whether the government had the right to impose death penalty, the question was that such penalties were not reasonable at this stage of the country's civilisation.

He called on those trying Amina Lawal to listen to the advice of Muslims outside Nigeria, who insisted that the injunctions in the Qu'ran were being mis-interpreted and mis-applied as regards the issue of adultery and stoning.