A Nigerian torture victim wrongfully sentenced to death for a crime committed when he was 16 years old has been pardoned following intensive campaigning from Amnesty International supporters across the world.
Moses Akatugba, who was on death row following his conviction for stealing three mobile phones 10 years ago and was repeatedly tortured into signing a confession, said he felt “overwhelmed” after the outgoing Governor of Nigeria’s Delta State announced last night he had granted him a full pardon.
“The pardon of Moses Akatugba, who should not have been sentenced to death in the first place because he was a minor at the time of the offence, is a victory for justice and a reminder that people power and human rights campaigning really can make a difference,” said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International’s Africa Director.
“Without the thousands of letters sent in support of Moses by his supporters across the globe, he may never have been granted his freedom.”
Moses is one of the core cases of Amnesty International Stop Torture Global Campaign and was highlighted in the 2014 Write for Rights campaign. In total, more than 800,000 actions were taken worldwide asking the Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to commute the death sentence.
In a statement following Governor Uduaghan’s announcement, Moses said: “I am overwhelmed. I thank Amnesty International and their activists for the great support that made me a conqueror in this situation.
“Amnesty International members and activists are my heroes. I want to assure them that this great effort they have shown to me will not be in vain, by the special grace of God I will live up to their expectation. I promise to be a human rights activist – to fight for others.”
Moses also thanked the human rights defender Justine Ijeomah, who leads the Nigerian NGO Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation (HURSDEF), and Governor Uduaghan for “keeping to his word”.
In October 2014, Governor Uduaghan responded to pressure from Amnesty International supporters and said that he was looking into the case. He granted a pardon to Moses yesterday on his penultimate day in office.