The Power of Public Exposure of Convicted Murderers Punishment As a Tool to Deter Potential Criminals
By Wilson Macaulay
In a society where the sanctity of human life is often disregarded, the legal system is meant to uphold justice and act as a deterrent to crime. One recent example of justice taking its course is the case of Uduak Akpan, the man who brutally murdered the innocent job seeker girl ,Iniubong Umoren, in Akwa Ibom State. Akpan, after luring Umoren under the guise of offering her employment, proceeded to rape and murder her before burying her in a shallow grave on his father’s land. As expected ,the tragedy sparked national outrage and it led to Akpan’s arrest, trial, and eventual execution by hanging on August 7, 2024.
However, despite the high-profile nature of the case and the national attention it initially garnered, the execution itself was not widely publicized. The Akwa Ibom State High Court, under the direction of Justice Bassey Nkanang, sentenced Akpan to death by hanging in August 2022. The court also discharged and acquitted Akpan’s father and sister, who were accused of being accessories after the fact to murder. After two years, the sentence was finally carried out, but the news of Akpan’s execution failed to capture the public’s attention in the way his crime did. This raises a critical question: should the public be more widely informed about the crime and down play the consequences of such heinous acts? is it not possible for the visibility of these punishments act as a deterrent to future crimes?
The Case for Public Awareness of Executions
The lack of widespread publicity about Akpan’s execution is indicative of a broader problem in Nigeria’s justice system. While the sentence was carried out, its significance was lost on the general public due to insufficient media coverage. This, in turn, limits the impact that such an event could have on society. A well-publicized execution could have served as a stark reminder that those who commit grave atrocities in Nigeria will be made to face the full weight of the law no matter whose ox is gored.
A public show of justice serves not only to punish the individual but also to create a strong societal awareness about the consequences of criminal actions. China is a good example of a nation that have used this method to sanitize their society. In many cases, the fear of punishment can act as a deterrent to potential criminals.By ensuring that people are aware of these penalties, potential criminals may think twice before committing similar offenses. The execution of Uduak Akpan, if made more public, could have sent a powerful message that the Nigerian legal system will not tolerate such vile acts.
In August 2024, while Akpan’s execution was being carried out, there were several other reported cases of sexual violence and murder in Nigeria. Some of these incidents may have been prevented if the public had known about Akpan’s fate and it was given the publicity it deserved. The deterrent effect of justice should not be underestimated hence the need for this piece. If potential offenders understood that crimes like Akpan’s result in swift and decisive punishment, they might reconsider their actions. The fear of facing a similar fate could help curb the wave of violent crimes that Nigeria has witnessed in recent times.
The Role of Media in Justice
The media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and awareness. When it comes to crime and punishment, the media can serve as a tool to remind citizens that justice is being served. In Akpan’s case, while the media extensively covered the crime and trial, there was a notable lack of coverage regarding his execution. This discrepancy is troubling because it undermines the role of justice as a deterrent to future crimes. Chances
are if the potential criminal knows that he can go scot-free, it increases the tendency but if he knows that there’s no Way to wringle himself out of the net, he would subconsciously act more safely by avoiding the crime to guarantee his safety.
One reason for the lack of publicity could be that execution as a form of punishment is a sensitive topic. It may be argued that sensationalizing the death penalty could be seen as encouraging violence or fostering an unhealthy fascination with capital punishment. However, there is a balance to be struck. The media can responsibly report on executions to ensure that the
public is fully aware that criminals are held accountable, without glorifying the act of execution itself.
The use of media in such cases should not be for spectacle but for purpose of societal education. By highlighting the legal consequences of grave offenses, the media can reinforce the rule of law and remind individuals that actions have repercussions.
Justice as a Deterrent:
Learning from History
Throughout history, publicizing the punishments for serious crimes has been an effective way to discourage criminal behavior. Whether through public trials, televised court proceedings, or announcements of sentences, societies have often relied on the visibility of justice to maintain order. In Nigeria’s case, where crimes such as kidnapping, rape, and murder have reached alarming levels, there is a need to revive this practice. The execution of Uduak Akpan in a very obscured manner unlike the publicity that trailed the crime was a very wrong approach. We have a problem at hand, let us tackle it headlong by making sure that convicted criminals are widely publicesed with their last messages of repentance taken as lessons. I am convinced in my inner Man that this method will produce a sanitized public order.
The criminal justice system should ensure that major cases, especially those involving violent crimes, are given the visibility they deserve. This visibility serves as a reminder to the public that no one is above the law and that justice will be served, regardless of the individual’s status or background. In a case like Akpan’s, where the crime shocked the entire nation, the conclusion of his legal journey should have been broadcast as loudly as the crime itself.
Conclusion: The Need for Public Show of Justice
The execution of Uduak Akpan marked the end of a tragic chapter in Nigerian legal history, but the failure to make the public fully aware of this event represents a missed opportunity for potential criminals to learn good lessons of repentance and to reinforce order and authority. Crimes like Akpan’s send shockwaves through out the Nigerian society, and it is only through consistent and public enforcement of justice that we can begin to deter others from following a similar path.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with high rates of violent crime, ensuring that justice is not only done but also seen to be done is crucial. Making a public show of convicted murderers, not through the barbarism of public executions, but through robust media coverage and national awareness campaigns, can act as a powerful deterrent to those contemplating similar crimes. It is time for Nigeria to rethink how it handles the visibility of its justice system, to better protect the innocent and to hold the guilty accountable in a way that leaves no room for doubt about the consequences of evil actions.
