Tag Archives: Moses Akatugba

Stop Torture campaign – good news!

31 May

Moses AkatugbaMoses Akatugba, who was sentenced to death for stealing mobile phones, has been granted a total pardon by Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Governor of Delta State in Nigeria. Moses was just 16 when he was arrested, and 24 when he was sentenced to death. He was convicted based on ‘a confession’ obtained through repeated torture.
More than 34,000 people signed the Amnesty petition to the Governor of Delta State in Nigeria, asking him to show mercy on Moses Akatugba – and it’s thanks to those actions that Moses will experience freedom again after ten years behind bars, the last few of which were on death row.

Moses sent Amnesty International this message:
‘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 activist are my heroes.
‘I want to assure them, that this great effort they have show 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. I am thanking the Governor for his kind gesture and for keeping to his words.’

Together our voices really can free people, change laws and defend human rights around the world.

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Stop Torture Casefile: Nigeria: Moses Akatugba

28 Jun

Moses Akatugba

On 27 November 2005, 16-year-old Moses Akatugba was awaiting the results of his secondary school exams when his life changed forever. He was arrested by the Nigerian army and, he says, shot in the hand, beaten on the head and back, and then charged with stealing mobile phones.

When he was unable to name a dead man shown to him by soldiers, they beat him. After being transferred to Epkan police station in Delta State, Moses was tortured again. He said that the police beat him severely with machetes and batons, tied him up and hung him for several hours in interrogation rooms, and used pliers to pull out his finger and toe nails to force him to sign two ‘confessions’.

Moses was convicted solely on the basis of the alleged victim’s statement and ‘confessions’ Moses made under duress. After eight years in prison, he was sentenced to death by hanging and remains on death row. His claims of torture have still not been investigated.

‘The pain of torture is unbearable. I never thought I would be alive till this day. The pain I went through in the hands of the officers was unimaginable. In my whole life, I have never been subjected to such inhuman treatment,’ Moses, February 2014

Take Action: How you can help

1) Write to the Governor of Delta State, urging him to commute Moses Akatugba’s death sentence and institute an independent investigation into his allegations of torture.

Address: His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State, Office of the Governor, Government House, Asaba, Delta State

2) Let Moses know you are thinking of him and support his struggle for justice.

  • Address: Moses Akatugba, c/o Human Rights, Social Development and Environmental Foundation, P .O. Box 1800, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NIGERIA
  • Preferred language: English
  • Suggested message: I am thinking of you and support your fight for justice
  • It is ok to mention Amnesty, include a return address and send a religious card if you wish.

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