OPINION: Should Oil Thieves Face Death Penalty?

President of the Senate, David Mark, has advocated capital punishment for oil theft, saying the problem is having a devastating effect on the nation’s economy.

Mark spoke on Tuesday in his address to welcome senators back from the two weeks break.

He said, “In the past, I had occasion to comment on the escalating issue of oil theft. It does not need a genius to know that this would have a devastating effect on the economy if not checked.

“We must therefore address it squarely. I will maintain my earlier stance that oil theft should attract capital punishment.”

Mark noted that the country had challenges, particularly in the areas of economy and security, stressing that gains were being made in the three states where the state of emergency was declared.

The Senate President said, “As we make progress and win the hearts and minds of the people, government must intensify the provision of social amenities in those areas where normalcy has returned.

“Do we need to revisit the Terrorism Prevention Act to make and prescribe stiffer punishment for offenders? In all our parliamentary actions the welfare of the people must be paramount importance.”

He also noted that the relevant committees of the Senate should rededicate themselves to the task of legislative oversight.

Mark said, “I expect our relevant committees oversighting the state of emergency to monitor the situation closely and brief us accordingly.”

Meanwhile, Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to withdraw his recent directive that the country’s 36 state governors should sign death warrants of convicted inmates.

Falana made the call in a statement on Tuesday on the heel of Monday’s execution of four inmates in Edo State.

He said the directive by the President could not be executed as “most” of the inmates were still pursuing appeals against the death penalty passed on them.

The lawyer noted that Jonathan, having acknowledged the inhibiting factors against signing death warrants under a democratic dispensation, refused to do so while he was the governor of Bayelsa State.

He said, “However, if the directive is carried out in utter violation of the constitutional right of appeal of the over 900 convicts, and they are killed before the determination of their appeals, it will tantamount to crime against humanity for which the President may be charged and tried  before the International Criminal Court.

“State governors are particularly cautioned to refrain from implementing the President’s directive to avoid being dragged with him before the International Criminal Court.”

Source: Punch