The call by President Goodluck Jonathan last Sunday on state governors to sign death warrants of condemned inmates in prisons across the country has again brought to the fore the lingering controversy on the issue.
.
At a special ceremony to mark the 2013 Fathers' Day organized by the Aso Villa Chapel, President Jonathan urged governors not to run away from their statutory responsibility by not signing death warrants on condemned criminals by courts of competent jurisdiction.
.
He added that the state chief executives must be willing to carry out their responsibilities, no matter how painful in accordance with the law.
.
The Criminal Procedure Act of each state of the federation provides that governors should affirm death sentences of condemned criminals before execution. It is only in Lagos State that same provision is incorporated in its newly enacted Administration of Criminal Justice Law, ACJL.