Delta State House of Assemblyreduces punishment forkidnapping from death penaltyto life in prison

The Delta State House of Assembly in Asaba on
Wednesday, reduced the punishment for
kidnapping from death penalty to life
imprisonment in the state.
The state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa in a letter to
the House appealed for reconsideration of
Section 4, Sub-Section 1 of the Delta State Anti-
Kidnapping Law, 2016 which was passed by the
House, which made provision for death penalty
for anybody convicted of kidnapping.
Mr. Okowa in his letter said:

“The Right Honourable Speaker and
Honourable Members of the House are
aware that death penalty is globally no
longer fashionable as it breaches human
right to life and torture, both of which are
protected under the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, adopted by the United
Nations in 1948. Besides, there is
heightened campaign and overwhelming
support for the abolition of death penalty
globally,” said Mr. Okowa.
“Since the world is a global village, Delta
State cannot be an exception, hence the
passionate call to the House to
reconsider the Section under reference
and change the death sentence
prescribed therein to life imprisonment.
The amended law states:
“Any person who contravenes section (3)
of this law commits an offence and shall
on conviction be sentenced to life
imprisonment without fine."