The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the Nigerian government to implement a formal moratorium on executions, pointing out that more than 3,000 inmates currently languish on death row. This appeal comes as Nigeria approaches a decade without executions, which the NHRC describes as aligning with international standards for a de facto moratorium.
During a recent event in Abuja marking the 2026 World Day Against the Death Penalty, NHRC Executive Secretary Chief Tony Ojukwu stressed the need for state governors to exercise their constitutional powers to commute eligible death sentences to life imprisonment. He highlighted the importance of addressing cases where inmates have exhausted their legal options while still being held on death row.
Ojukwu also called for a comprehensive review of laws that impose mandatory death sentences, advocating for judicial discretion in consideration of mitigating circumstances. Although capital punishment remains legally permissible in Nigeria, he emphasized that its application must adhere to human rights standards and ensure procedural fairness.
The NHRC expressed concern over the obstacles to justice faced by condemned inmates, such as limited access to legal representation and systemic flaws in the trial process, which raise significant questions about the fairness of capital cases.
The commission outlined three key proposals: instituting a moratorium on executions, commuting eligible death sentences, and reviewing mandatory death penalty laws to allow for more just sentencing practices. Ojukwu articulated a hope that these discussions would produce actionable commitments to reform Nigeria’s justice system.
This initiative aligns with ongoing debates about capital punishment and the broader implications for human rights and criminal justice in Nigeria.
