by Kolapo Olapoju

Following the death sentence given to 54 Nigerian soldiers, the United Nations has expressed its intention to take appropriate action over the execution of the soldiers sentenced to death by the Nigerian Army on December 17.

In a letter to The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Christof Heyns, said: “Appropriate action, including communication to the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, is being considered regarding the imminent execution of 54 soldiers in Nigeria.”

54 soldiers had been sentenced to death by  firing squad, after  a general Court-Martial set up by the Army authorities against offences of mutiny and conspiracy.

In a statement by the Executive Director of SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni, on Sunday, SERAP expressed satisfaction over the decision of the UN to intervene in the execution of the soldiers.

Mumuni said: “Given his longstanding human rights commitment and achievements, we have absolutely no doubt that Mr. Heyns will work assiduously to ensure that justice is done in this matter and we wish him well as he strives to do that.”

SERAP said, “The General Court-Martial, held in secret, was a mockery of justice and ignored issues raised by the condemned men that suggest lack of transparency, accountability and general deficiencies in the handling of the security budget and arms purchases.”

The statement read, “The UN has also acknowledged the discriminatory and arbitrary nature of judicial processes and the danger of the death penalty being used as a tool of repression. It has documented evidence to show that the death penalty is no deterrent, stressing that ‘depriving a human person of his or her life is incompatible with the trend in the 21st Century.”

Kolapo Olapoju