“Oshiomhole Explodes In Senate, Slams Judges For Downgrading Death Sentences!”

According to Ireporter Online, Senator Adams Oshiomhole has strongly criticised recent judicial decisions that downgraded death sentences for individuals convicted of capital offences. The Edo North lawmaker voiced his concerns during Wednesday’s Senate session on national security, warning that such rulings endanger the integrity of the justice system and weaken public confidence.

Oshiomhole argued that it was unacceptable for judges to replace death sentences prescribed by law with imprisonment terms of as little as 20 years, especially in cases involving armed robbery, kidnapping, or terrorism resulting in fatalities. He referenced a recent judgement delivered in Abuja, where a Federal High Court judge sentenced an Ansaru terrorist kingpin to 20 years in prison despite legislation mandating capital punishment for such offences.

He questioned the rationale behind such sentencing. “How can someone carrying a death sentence end up with twenty years in prison? That is not acceptable,” he stated.

The former labour leader accused a number of judicial officers of issuing “sentimental or compromised judgments” that contradict laws duly passed by the National Assembly. He stressed that judges are obligated to apply the law as written, while any commutation of sentences remains the prerogative of the President.

Oshiomhole expressed frustration that the extensive work and risks undertaken by security agencies and prosecutors to secure convictions were being undermined by inconsistent court judgments. He cautioned that such leniency emboldens criminals and further weakens the nation’s security architecture.

He also highlighted cases where individuals who acted in self-defence—such as farmers protecting their land—received severe punishments, while perpetrators of violent attacks often evade justice. He described such disparities as troubling and counterproductive.

The senator urged the federal government and the judiciary to urgently address what he described as an imbalance in sentencing practices, insisting that justice must be both fair and uniform across all cases. He emphasised that resolving these issues is essential to confronting Nigeria’s broader security challenges.