failed to give his final address on the basis that his address will not improve on the facts of
the case. The plea of allocutus was made by her Counsel which the trial judge considered
and rightly
recommended
prerogative power
the executive Governor
of mercy to commute
of Katsina
the sentence
State
to act under
his
to life imprisonment The
2nd
defendant further claimed that the plaintiff intentionally decided to hold her baby girl until she
has weaned her in order to call for local, national and international support for her release
despite the initial demands for her to release the baby to her father, the plaintiff refused to do
so. Furthermore, that there is no law that exists in Nigeria which prohibits passing death
sentence on e1ther adult or young person, he therefore claimed
that death sentence is
constitutionally and statutorily recognized and permitted in Nigeria.
18. The 3rd defendant in its defence, claimed that the applicant was received into prison
custody by a lawful court order. Also, that it is statutorily mandated to take and keep custody
of persons legally interned. The
3rd
defendant also claimed that the applicant was committed
to its custody vide a valid commitment warrant. The
3rd
defendant also claimed that the
applicant was an adult above 18 years when she was received into prison custody. The
3rd
defendant further claimed that it is not its duty to prosecute inmates in its custody hence it
did not participate in the prosecution of the plaintiff.
19. Also
that
nothing
m the
Nigerian
law
prevents
or
prohibits
a
court
from
sentencing/committing a nursing mother to prison That going with an infant into prison
custody is at a total discretion of the inmate/mother. The
3rd
defendant claimed that the
plaintiffs cell was reasonably decent, hygienic and standard being a new 7ell block That
toiletries, beddings, mattress and mosquito nets were provided for all the inmates particularly
the claimant and her infant The
3rd
defendant also claimed that clean portable water is
pumped by bore hole on daily basis. That the right of appeal against the decision of High
Courts in Nigeria, lies to the Court of Appeal.
-
LEGAL ARGUMENTS OF COUNSEL:
The plaintiff:
20.
. The plaintiff s counsel based their arguments on the African Charter on Human and
Peoples ' Rights which is applicable to all Member States of ECOWAS, pursuant to Article 4
of the Revised Treaty which provides that
5
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