NBA, Sagay Kick against Ozekhome’s Call For Amnesty To Kidnappers

[Shola Sholaz]

Some prominent lawyers in Lagos and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Friday frowned at a call to grant amnesty to kidnappers. In interviews  the lawyers said that the call would encourage young Nigerians to take to crime.
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The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome, who regained freedom from his abductors on Thursday, said that the Federal Government should grant amnesty to kidnappers.
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Ozekhome said that initiating amnesty programmes for kidnappers would reduce crimes in the country.
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However, the NBA Chairman, Lagos branch, Mr Taiwo, said  that amnesty to kidnappers would increase crimes.
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Taiwo said: "I am totally against it. This will only take criminality to a higher level and make people to believe that crime pays.
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"You cannot place kidnappers on the same scale with Niger Delta militants who were clamouring for judicious use of their resources."
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A constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), said that kidnappers had no moral justification to terrorise and inflict pains on innocent Nigerians.
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"They are modern day robbers and lazy people who are looking for any excuse to inflict pains and sufferings on innocent people so that they can get money cheaply.