Catholic Diocese Kicks Against Proposed Death Sentence For Kidnappers In Osun

By Solomon Odeniyi

The Justice Development and Peace Makers Centre (JDPMC) of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, has opposed the State of Osun House of Assembly’s proposed death penalty for kidnappers, notwithstanding the profile of the offence.

Spokesperson for JDPMC, Mr. Paul Kehinde, who spoke at the public hearing, said: “The Catholic Church does not support death penalty as punitive to crime. It is only God that has the power to terminate human lives.”

Kehinde advocated for repeal of criminal laws in the state and country at large, stating that prisons should be overhauled in order for inmates to be rehabilitated so that when they leave correctional custodies, they would become reformed in the society.

The Speaker of House, Timothy Owoeye, said the bill would complement the efforts of the Amotekun Corps when inaugurated.

Owoeye said that it was imperative to have enabling laws to ensure quick and diligent prosecution of kidnapping offenders.

The Speaker said that ever since the issue of Amotekun Corps came to the fore, there have been downward trends in the case of kidnapping in Osun and other Southwest states.

He held that the Seventh Assembly under his watch would review the existing laws on kidnapping which recommended a shift from 14 years imprisonment to death penalty.

Owoeye expressed displeasure over the risen cases of kidnapping, saying: “Osun has witnessed about six cases in 2020 alone but we are eager to nip it in the bud.