Alleged Coup Case: Lawyer Calls Death Penalty ‘Old-School

According to Ireporter Online, lawyer and human rights activist Frank Tietie has described the death penalty as outdated and counterproductive, even for those alleged to have plotted a coup against President Bola Tinubu’s government.

In an interview with Arise News, Tietie emphasized that while attempting to overthrow a democratically elected government is a serious offence, capital punishment is not the solution. He argued that modern societies should focus on reforming lives rather than resorting to executions, which he said can increase crime and devalue human life.

“The death penalty is old-school. It is barbaric. It does not solve the problem; it traumatises the entire polity,” Tietie said, recalling his experiences during the era of the firing squad. “Modern societies preserve life, reform life, and improve life. They do not descend into the barbarity of taking life.”

Tietie noted that the 16 officers accused of planning the coup face punishments ranging from imprisonment to the death penalty. He further urged the Tinubu administration to adopt the cautious approach of previous civilian governments when handling such cases.

“This is not the first allegation of a coup under a democracy. During the Balewa era, the government avoided using inflammatory language such as ‘coup’ and ‘treason’ to prevent unnecessary tension,” he said.

While commending the government for its measured response, Tietie highlighted the importance of upholding the officers’ rights. “The government is handling this well. Unlike the military era, investigations took time, and the supremacy of civilian authority is evident. The armed forces reported to the president rather than acting on their own,” he said.

He stressed that the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty and called for prompt court proceedings. “These are Nigerian officers, Nigerian citizens, and these are only allegations. As Femi Falana has rightly said, you cannot keep people in detention indefinitely. If there is a case, charge them to court immediately,” Tietie stated.

The lawyer concluded by affirming the primacy of democracy. “No matter how bad things are, we must never condone any attempt to remove a democratically elected president. Democracy may stumble and rumble, but it has no alternative,” he said.