By Richard Akinnola
ThankGod Ebhos is a man of great recipient of God’s grace.
Adams Oshiomhole, then Governor of Edo state, signed some execution warrants in respect of some long-time inmates on death row at Benin prison.
On June 24, 2013, the day of the executions by hanging at the prison gallows, ThankGod watched four of his colleagues hanged. He was the next in line. Execution ritual in prison includes reading out the execution warrant, asking the convict his last words to his family, then prayer by the invited priest or Imam.
When it got to the turn of ThankGod, even when everything was set for his execution, the divine hand of God showed.
The execution warrant was read. However, there was a snag. He was sentenced to death by firing squad by a Robbery and Firearms tribunal sitting in Kaduna in May 1995 over a robbery that took place in 1988. He was tried under the Robbery and Firearms Decree. He was not tried by the regular court because it was during the military regime. After his conviction, he was later transferred to Benin prison.
The death warrant was read to him, that he was to die by firing squad and not by hanging. The Sheriff paused. He was confused. The gallows prepared was for death by hanging, being under a democratic dispensation. He therefore sought clarification from his superiors if the execution by hanging should proceed, contrary to what was in his execution warrant, which was firing squad.
Having obtained clarification from his superiors, he was directed to stop the execution and ThankGod was returned back to the condemned cell.
Immediately, Amnesty International and some local NGOs continued their advocacy for his release. Eventually, he was released in 2014, after spending 19 years on the death row.
-Richard Akinnola
