Former Attorney General of Edo State, Dr. Samson Osagie, on Sunday said persons convicted under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act should serve their full sentences to deter others.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria,( NAN), Dr. Osagie said the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, was enacted to provide a legal framework for the detection, prevention, prosecution and punishment of acts of terrorism in Nigeria. He noted public concerns over the possibility of convicted terrorists being granted amnesty through executive orders.
He further disclosed there was a need to amend the Act and Section 175 of the Constitution on prerogative of mercy to exclude persons convicted of terrorism or terrorism-related offences. “It has become pertinent to recommend that the Act be further amended to exclude such persons from benefiting from presidential clemency during the pendency of their jail term,” he said.
Also speaking, former NBA Young Lawyers Forum Chairman, Mr. Uwomano Aki, described terrorism as “a direct attack on the sovereignty, security, and collective existence of the nation.” He said where a court has found an accused guilty after a fair trial, granting executive clemency later is difficult to justify.
Similarly, a member of the NBA, Mrs. Adaobi Fortune, said any consideration of amnesty for convicted terrorists must be guided by overriding national interest. “The sovereignty of Nigeria and interests of its citizens should override every other consideration,” she said.
Also, President of the African Women Lawyers Association, Mrs. Amanda Demechi-Asagba, said the law already contains safeguards against the release of terrorists sentenced to life. She explained that under the 2022 Act, life imprisonment means an offender remains in prison for life unless the sentence is overturned on appeal or altered by pardon. She called for a further amendment requiring terrorism convicts to spend at least 30 years before being considered for clemency.
This unanimous call by legal experts underscores growing public demand for tougher measures against terrorisms as they argued that denying convicted terrorists access to clemency will not only uphold justice for victims but also strengthen national security and reinforce the resolve to stamp out terrorism from Nigeria.