Public Exhibition of Justice or Wickedness in High Places?
Consequent upon the fact that my stand has been drawn to the view of this act, I want to conclude that Scientific Maximum Shishi is a Public Exhibition of Wickedness in high places.
Oh yes! You might be asking what that is, I will tell you
SMS is an act of scaring and pulling an alleged offender and then parading that individual. Literally put, it is the use of corporal punishment as penalty for crimes-social vices such as larceny, rape, physical assault, et ceteria.
In my view and understanding of the effects of this corporal punishment, I would state some out of many of the reflection of how wicked this act could be.
The SMS as a corporal punishment would by any means be a flow of injustice because the same punishment an alleged theif(not even a murderer) gets will be the same as a rapist, this is far from justice. This has raised concern. That is to say that the punishment is not given or executed persay to the victims as to the degree of the offense.
In addition, that such individual after going through this punishment will not repeat such deeds us not certain. In fact, it could increase such crimes on larger happenings. So despite the repeatedly done SMS, crimes still repeat itself.
Furthermore, it is hard to think or phantom that individuals caught and punished with SMS would end up overcoming psychological and emotional threats after being pronounced innocent. The deed has been done, no compensation, just apologies, would apologies bring back the normal state of such individuals? Would it reinstate his social and economic life? Would those apologies stop or subdue the psychological trauma that punishment has caused? Absolutely No!
Also to show that this act is a public exhibition of Wickedness in high places, reports have shown that offenders not caught in the act, are taken to make confessions under threat, intimidation and compellation. This does not go in accordance with the fact that those who instill such punishment are literates, because this is inconsistent with the law (constitution) of Nigeria S.36(5).
Moving on to the act of SMS on a their or an offender, so to say, disfigures that individual FOR LIFE physically not for a period of time. It is a barbaric act. SMS is not supposed or expected to be found in states or communities with laws, the country is not lawless! There are other ways to make a theif learn his lesson than to disfigure Jim seriously. Two wrongs don't make a right.
Moreso, in an environment with intellectuals, where intellectuals are made, sanity and civility is expected, SMS is not a well reported act to be found therein.
Should SMS continue?
Abayomi Adunni Adeola (Della)
Part 1
Faculty of Law.
Nice one. Even the name sounds funny(scientific maximum shishi). Its totally uncivilized and shouldn't be executed. No matter the offence, law shouldn't be taken into our hands.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. Thanks for visiting and commenting.
DeleteDella, a nice blog you've got here.
ReplyDeleteSubsequently, the provisions of S 34(1a) says "no person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment;"
I recall a young man who upon the theft of properties was asked to sit upon a hot plate, red hot. He obviously had no option but to do same.
Jungle justice is SMS, it should be abolished.
Signature:
Nelson Vincent, a blogger, poet and essayist is an undergraduate Law student of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. You could reach him on www.neloc.com.ng
Great contribution Nelson!
DeleteI hope to see you here more often.
Thanks!