24th July, 2013
Jethro Ibileke/ Benin
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has denied claims that he had signed death warrants of two convicted prisoners on death row in the State.
Amnesty International in a statement today claimed that some condemned prisoners including one that missed execution in June, are about to be executed and have been moved closer to the gallows.
The human rights group’s claim appeared to have been anchored on a false news story by the Nigeria, national TV network, the NTA that the governor had signed death warrants for some convicts.
The governor in a press statement issued and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, described the story as untrue.
“The attention of the Government of Edo State has been drawn to a news item on the scroll bar of the 7:00pm Prime News of Tuesday, 23rd July, 2013, of the Nigerian television Authority (NTA), Benin Network Centre to the effect that the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has signed the death warrants of two more prisoners on death row in the state.
The press statement advised the general public to ignore the said news item as it a figment of the imagination of the authors intended to cause disaffection against the governor and government of Edo State.
While stating that the governor would not shy away from carrying his Constitutional duties when the need arises, the press statement urged media practitioners to always take steps to verify information from the Media Unit of the governor’s office when in doubt.