The Federal Government has been asked to suspend the execution of over 800 inmates on death row in various prisons in the country.

Lawyers Without Borders France, otherwise known as ASF France, and the National Human Rights Commission, made the appeal while canvassing a review of the law on capital punishment at a news conference to mark the World Day Against Death Penalty in Abuja on Wednesday.

Head of Mission, ASF France, Celine Lemmel, noted that there were over 800 inmates on death row in Nigerian prisons.

She said, “While ASF France commends the Nigerian government for its self-imposed moratorium, it urges the government to issue an official statement clearly declaring that Nigeria has adopted a moratorium on execution of death sentences, i.e an official suspension of executions and, eventually, of death sentences.”

She noted that many of those on death row were condemned based on confessional statements made under duress.

Lemmel said, “Currently, there are over 800 inmates on death row in various prisons in Nigeria. These inmates were convicted for crimes ranging from murder, armed robbery and kidnapping.

“The majority of these convicts cannot afford the services of lawyers let alone counsel of their own choice.

“In most cases, their convictions were based on confessional statements of the accused made under duress during interrogation by law enforcement agencies.

“Besides, these agencies lack apparatus to carry out forensic investigations.

“The commission supports the call for a moratorium on death penalty.

“As far back as 2004, the National Study Group on Death Penalty called on the government to impose a moratorium on execution and commute persons on death row whose appeals have been concluded to life imprisonment.

“This is given the fact that the criminal justice system has its flaws which need to be overhauled.” http://www.punchng.com/news/suspend-execution-of-800-condemned-prisoners-in-nigeria/