Edo State hangs 4 convicted criminals

Four convicted criminals were on Monday executed by hanging in the premises of the Benin City Central Prisons, says Edo Attorney General Henry Idahagbon.The justice commissioner in Edo state confirmed the hanging of the four prisoners, who had been convicted of either armed robbery or murder, he said.

According to the commissioner, all their appeals had been exhausted and their death warrants were signed.

"The court gave the judgement this afternoon that the execution could go ahead and the prison authority went ahead," Henry Idahagbon told AFP.

He added that the executions were carried out by the prison service, a federal agency, and not the state government.

However, he said he was informed by prison authorities of the executions. Edo state Governor Adams Oshiomhole signed two of the death warrants since the crimes occurred in Edo, said

Idahagbon, as required by law.

Governors from elsewhere signed the two other death warrants, he said. Since the prison system is federal, prisoners can be moved elsewhere in the country.

A fifth prisoner is also due to be executed, but his sentence dated back to the military era that ended in 1999 and called for him to be killed by firing squad, which prison authorities were not yet prepared to do, he said.