NIGERIA: DELTA STATE ASSEMBLY APPROVES DEATH SENTENCE FOR KIDNAPPERS

The Delta State House of Assembly voted against Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the state on a bill seeking to prescribe death sentence for kidnappers in the state.
The Governor, while exercising his veto power refused assent to the Delta State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Terrorism Bill, 2012, which had earlier been unanimously passed by the House.
However, at the House’s proceedings, 26 of the 29 members voted to override the Governor’s veto which effectively makes the bill now an authentic law of the state.
The Speaker, Mr. Victor Ochei, had prior to the voting read out a very lengthy letter sent to the House by the Governor, explaining why he had refused assent to the bill.
According to Governor Uduaghan, “it is my view that death sentence punishment is not likely to serve as deterrent or antidote.”
Dissatisfied with the explanation, members, citing Section 100 sub-section 5 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which empowered the House to override the Governor’s veto by a two-third majority, resolved to take action.
Consequently, 26 of the members voted to override the Governor’s veto.
The Speaker, Mr. Ochei, thereafter directed the Clerk of the House to enroll the law in the state High Court, as it has become law with effect from today.