Audio By Carbonatix
Nigerian court hearings that take place over the internet must be "fair, transparent and effective", Human Rights Watch (HRW) has told the BBC.
The comments from the rights watchdog come after a man was sentenced to death during a court ruling in Lagos state that was held using Zoom.
In a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus, all but urgent court sittings in the country have been suspended.
Presiding over the internet court hearing, Judge Mojisola Dada sentenced Olalekan Hameed to death by hanging for murdering his employer’s mother.
Proceedings lasted almost three hours and were watched by a number of lawyers and judges, including the attorney general.
The defendant pled not guilty.
Under Nigerian law, state governors approve death sentences before they can be carried out.
HRW said the creation of the online court during the coronavirus outbreak shows a commitment to accessing justice. But the group has described the death-by-hanging sentence as "inherently cruel and inhumane".
Latest Stories
-
Photos: Mahama pays tribute to Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey during Jamaica State Visit
14 seconds -
I’m not campaigning for 2028 — Asiedu Nketia says thank you tour was to ‘quench fires’ in NDC
2 minutes -
Keep fuel subsidies temporary and well-targeted or risk fiscal damage – IMF warns Ghana
5 minutes -
Fidelity Bank champions inclusive pension reforms to strengthen retirement security
9 minutes -
Gideon Boako cites IMF report, questions GoldBod over $1.7bn gold programme losses
14 minutes -
‘Stability is not development’ – Gideon Boako invokes IMF report to press gov’t on reforms
21 minutes -
All our passengers survived – STC on Accra–Kumasi highway crash
29 minutes -
Asiedu Nketia claims credit for Supreme Court ruling on political party primaries
34 minutes -
Police promise transparent probe into Wechiau youth leader’s death as chief calls for calm in Upper West
36 minutes -
One-member-one-vote system is practical, we have done it before – Asiedu Nketia
38 minutes -
DVLA to legalise temporary ‘Just Married’, ‘Called to the Bar’ vehicle plates
39 minutes -
I warned NPP its top-down primaries would create factions – Asiedu Nketia
42 minutes -
Fuel leak suspected after Daewoo Matiz catches fire at Suhum
44 minutes -
In Photos: Mahama addresses Jamaican Parliament, highlights shared Ghana-Caribbean history
48 minutes -
Improve public servants’ salaries to reduce bribery – Affail Monney to gov’t
50 minutes