Sokoto, 18 May, 2022 / 9:14 pm (ACI Africa).
The leadership of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a UK-based human rights foundation, has described as “inexcusable” the arraigning of only two suspects on charges of “criminal conspiracy and disturbing the peace” in connection with the of May 12 stoning to death of Deborah Yakubu.
In a Tuesday, May 17 report, CSW officials say the current charges are “bailable”. They call on authorities in Nigeria’s Sokoto State to review the charges “as a matter of urgency” and to identify and arraign more perpetrators from the “copious video clips” showing how Deborah, also known as Deborah Emmanuel, was pursued and murdered by torture.
“It is inexcusable that despite copious video clips depicting every stage of the pursuit, torture and murder of Ms. Emmanuel which clearly identify her assailants, only two perpetrators have been arraigned so far,” CSW Chief Executive Officer, Scot Bower, says.
Mr. Bower who doubles as a board member of CSW Nigeria says the fact that none of the suspects is facing a murder charge, and that both could soon be out on bail "is unacceptable and reprehensible raising the probability that once again those who have taken a life in a cruel and brutal manner will evade justice on ostensibly religious grounds, when no one should be above the law.”
The CSW official has called on Sokoto State authorities to uphold the rule of law and challenge impunity "by reviewing these charges as a matter of urgency, and sparing no effort in identifying and arraigning perpetrators identified on video in a manner commensurate with their role in this heinous murder."
