TITLE PAGE...………………………………………………………….………………….. i

ABSTRACT ..…………………………………………………............................................... ii

TABLE OF CASES …………………….…………………………………………………. iii

TABLE OF STATUTES ………...………………………………………………………... ix

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS …………………………………………………………….. xi

Chapter 1

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0: INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………….. 1

1.1: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY ……………………………………………… 2

1.2: SCOPE OF STUDY ……………………………...……………………………..……... 2

1.3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ……………………...………………………………. 2

1.4: STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM…………………………………………….…….. 2

1.5: LITERATURE REVIEW………………………………………...……………...……... 3

1.6: DEFINITION OF MAJOR TERMS…………………………………………………… 7

1.7: STRUCTURE/BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE WORK…………………………………… 8

Chapter 2

RIGHT TO LIFE AND OTHER RELATED CONCEPTS

2.0 INTRODUCTION ………………………………...……………………………………. 10

2.1: EVOLUTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS……………..……………………………..….. 10

2.2: INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENT PRESERVING THE RIGHT TO LIFE AGAINST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ………………………………………………………………… 14

2.2.1: GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS    â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦..….… 14

2.2.2: REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS ……………………………….... 15

2.3: DUTY ON THE STATE TO PROTECT LIFE …………..……………………......... 18

2.4: DUTY OF THE STATE NOT TO ENDANGER LIFE   ……………………..……... 20

2.5: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND RIGHT TO LIFE   ………………………...……... 22

2.6: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND RIGHT TO   HUMAN DIGNITY ………..…….. 23

2.7: OTHER RELATED CONCEPTS……………...…………………………………….. 26

2.7.1: EUTHANASIA…………………………………………………………………….. 26

2.7.2: ABORTION………………………………………………………………….…….. 29

2.7.3: SUICIDE……………………………………………………………………..…….. 31

2.8: CONCLUSION…………………………………...………………………………….. 31

Chapter 3

EVALUATION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN NIGERIA

3.0: INTRODUCTION……………………………..……………………………………... 32

3.1: HISTORICAL FRAMEWORK OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT….…...……………… 32

3.2: THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT……..……..…………. 35

3.3: OFFENCES PUNISHABLE BY CAPITAL PUNISHMENT……….………..………. 35

3.4: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ON SOME VULNERABLE GROUPS ....………………… 37

3.4.1: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ON JUVENILES………………………………...……..38

3.4.2: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ON PREGNANT WOMEN ………………………......... 40

3.4.3: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ON THE INSANE/ MENTALLY RETARDED ............. 41

3.4.4: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ON THE AGED ……………………………………… 45

3.5: CONCLUSION …………………………………………………………..……………. 46

Chapter 4

MODES OF EXECUTING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND WORLDWIDE ANALYSIS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

4.0: INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………...…..…………... 47

4.1: MODES OF EXECUTION ……………………………………………...…………... 47

4.1.1 STONING……………………………………………………………….………….. 48

4.1.2 HANGING …………………………………………………………...…………….. 49

4.1.3 SHOOTING OR FIRING SQUAD ……………………………….………………... 50

4.1.4 GAS CHAMBER OR LETHAL GAS MODE OF EXECUTION ……..……………..52

4.1.5: ELECTROCUTION ……………………………………...……………….……….. 53

4.1.6: LETHAL INJECTION ………………………………...…………………………….. 55

4.2: WORLD WIDE ANALYSIS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT …...…………..…………. 56

4.2.1: CONTINENTAL ANALYSIS …………………………………...………………... 57

4.2.2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS …………………………………………………………….. 58

4.4: CONCLUSION ……………………………………………………………….……….. 59

Chapter 5

JUSTIFICATIONS FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND ITS ABOLITION

5.0: INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………….…………….. 60

5.1: JUSTIFICATIONS FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT …………………………..…….. 60

5.1.1: RELIGIOUS APPROVAL …………………………………………….…………... 60

5.1.2: RETRIBUTION ………………………………………………………..………….. 61

5.1.3 DETERRENCE …………………………………………………………………….. 63

5.1.4 INCAPACITATION ……………………………………………………………….. 65

5.1.5: ARGUMENTS BASED ON THE SCOPE OF THE DEATH PENALTY ..................66

5.1.6: ARGUMENTS BASED ON THE KILLING OF A LOVED ONE. ............................ 67

5.1.7: INTERNATIONAL LAW DOES NOT PROHIBIT THE DEATH PENALTY ......... 68

5.1.8: ARGUMENTS BASED ON PUBLIC OPINION ………………..………………... 68

5.2: ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ………………….…………………….. 69

5.2.1 INFRINGEMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS ……………………..…………………... 69

5.2.2: RISKS TO THE INNOCENT AND JUDICIAL ERROR ……..………………….. 72

5.2.3: ARBITRARY APPLICATION ON THE POOR ……...…………………………... 74

5.2.4: DISCRIMINATELY APPLICATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE ……………… 74

5.2.5: COST OF EXECUTION ...………………………………………………………… 76

5.3: "LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE:" AN ALTERNATIVE TO DEATH PENALTY. ……………………….......... 76

5.4: WAY FORWARD …………………………………..………………………………… 77

5.5: CONCLUSION ……………………………………..……………………………….. 78

CHAPTER 6

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

6.0: CONCLUSION ..…..………………………………………………………………... 79

6.1: RECOMMENDATIONS ..……..……………………………………………………. 81

BIBLIOGRAPHY/REFERENCE LIST…...……………………………………………… 83

BOOKS………………………………………..………………………………………….. 83

CONFERENCE PAPERS ………………………...……………………………………… 83

DICTIONARIES……………………………………….…………………………………. 83

ARTICLES IN JOURNALS ……………………………………………………………... 83

ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET………………………………………………………... 86

OTHER SOURCES …………………………..…………………………………………... 88