Senator Oshiomhole Fumes as Judges Cut D£ath Penalty to 20 Years for Terrorists

Senator Oshiomhole Fumes as Judges Cut Death Penalty to 20 Years for Terrorists

Senator Adams Oshiomhole from Edo State is expressing strong discontent with judges who give light sentences to convicted terrorists, despite laws that enforce the death penalty for such crimes.

Speaking at a Senate session broadcast by Symfoni TV, he pointed out the inconsistency in judicial rulings that go against established laws.

Oshiomhole stated, “I am disturbed by the varying judgments from different judges. The law clearly states that terrorism should result in the death penalty if convicted. No judge has the authority to impose a lesser sentence.”

He added that only the president can change sentences after the law has been properly applied, saying, “Only once the law is enforced and interpreted—rather than a judge’s personal feelings—can the president consider if there are grounds to commute or reduce a sentence. How can a crime that warrants the death penalty be reduced to just 20 years in prison? That’s unacceptable and violates the laws set by parliament.”

The senator stressed that the National Assembly, under Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has enacted these death penalty laws for terrorism. He voiced his frustration over the judiciary’s disregard for these regulations.

Oshiomhole underscored the hard work that security agencies and prosecutors put into achieving convictions, arguing that judges who lessen sentences from death to prison terms disrespect both the parliamentary process and the efforts to successfully prosecute terrorists.