In commemoration of the World Day Against Death Penalty, the Advocates Sans Frontiers (ASF), also known as Lawyers Without Borders, expressed deep concern over the increasing number of inmates awaiting execution in Nigerian prisons. During a high-level consultation yesterday, Ms. Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, the Country Director for ASF, revealed that 3,650 inmates are currently on death row in Nigeria, including 63 women housed in 11 maximum prisons across the nation.
This alarming statistic coincided with support from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the abolition of capital punishment in Nigeria.
Uzoma-Iwuchukwu highlighted a recent statement by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, who indicated that Nigeria has a voluntary moratorium on the death penalty. However, she emphasized the need for a formal policy to support this moratorium, stating, “As long as we do not have any policy paper, then executions could happen at any time, thereby putting those over 3,000 persons on death row at risk of execution at any moment.”
Nigeria reportedly holds the highest number of death row inmates in sub-Saharan Africa, and despite the last execution occurring in 2014, the risk of future executions persists.
Mr. Chinonye Obiagwu, SAN, Executive Director of the Legal Defence & Assistance Project (LEDAP), echoed similar sentiments, noting that only 15 countries in Africa, including Nigeria, have not abolished the death penalty. Among these, Nigeria has the highest number of death row prisoners and offenses punishable by death. He expressed concern over the “appalling” death penalty regime in the country and hoped for its imminent abolition.
Mr. Anthony Ojukwu, SAN, Executive Secretary of the NHRC, called for “a complete legal abolition of capital punishment,” underscoring the irreversible nature of the death penalty and its potential for wrongful convictions, which could lead to innocent individuals being executed.
The President of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, represented by Mr. Nuhu Egya, Chairman of the Citizens Liberties Committee, emphasized the need for federal government review of the death sentence, describing it as “an outdated and ineffective form of punishment.” He assured that the NBA would continue advocating for reforms to promote fair trials and humane sentencing while providing free legal services to individuals facing the death penalty.
Notable attendees of the event included the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms. Leilani Bin-Juda, and the Deputy Head of Mission of the French Embassy in Nigeria, Jean-François Hasperue.