16 July 2008 :

the Nigerian House of Representatives rejected a bill, which sought to amend the capital punishment prescribed for convicted armed robbers as they unanimously voted against it as it was read for the second time.
The bill, sponsored by the former Speaker of the Edo state House of Assembly Friday Itulah and entitled: 'A Bill for an Act to Amend the Robbery and Firearms (Special provisions) Cap. R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and for Matters Connected Therewith, 2008,' seeks to abolish capital punishment in any form for persons convicted in any Nigerian court of competent jurisdiction.
Despite the presence of the Amnesty International and Human Rights Laws International at the gallery of the House, and no sooner had the sponsor of the Bill led the debate, which was seconded by Hon. Ike Chinwo than the entire House erupted in No! signalling that the bill would suffer a major set back.
Itulah urged the House to amend Section 1 (2 & 3) and Section 2 (2) of the principal Act. He said the portion where it is stated that anybody convicted to death should be substituted with life imprisonment.