My right to Life (Introduction)
- Introduction
This is the most fundamental of all human rights. Only a living can enforce all other rights s/he has. Right to life is so important that even after death, his/her wishes as provided in a will while alive must be adhered to.
Life is and should be valued that no person should take his/her life and/or the life of another willfully.
Section 33(1) of the 1999 constitution provides that:
Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty.
The above provision forbids any intentional deprivation of life except where execution of court judgment is to be carried out with respect to a criminal offence. Such execution must not be hurriedly carried out where appeal is pending. The right to appeal must be exhausted else such execution will be unconstitutional.
Right to life is alienable right and must be valued. The State has the duty to protect lives and properties of the citizens of Nigeria and Non-Nigerians alike.
