Germany, Australia, and Avocats Sans Frontières France have jointly called for urgent action toward the abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria, while commending President Bola Tinubu for commuting the death sentences of seven inmates to life imprisonment.
The call was made in Abuja during the screening of the film Just Mercy, organised by ASF France (also known as Lawyers Without Borders France), to mark the 2025 World Day Against the Death Penalty.
Speaking at the event, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, reaffirmed her country’s unwavering stance against capital punishment.
“We think that the death penalty is not only a legal matter, but it touches on core values of justice, human dignity and the right to life,” she said.
“The irreversible nature of the death penalty means that mistakes and wrongful convictions are beyond correction. Germany abolished the death penalty more than 70 years ago, and we continue to advocate globally for its complete eradication.”
Günther also urged the Nigerian government to take further steps toward abolition, stressing the importance of aligning justice with human rights.
Also speaking, Neil Sanderson, Chargé d’Affaires at the Australian High Commission, reinforced his government’s opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.
“Australia’s position is clear — we oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and continue to call for its global abolition,” he said.
“It is a cruel, inhumane and ineffective punishment that undermines human dignity and justice. Encouragingly, global momentum is growing, and we welcome Nigeria’s consideration of abolition as part of its constitutional reform process.”
Sanderson noted that 144 countries had already abolished the death penalty in law or practice, with several African countries— including Ghana, Zambia, Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic, and Zimbabwe — recently taking significant steps in that direction.
Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, Country Director of ASF France in Nigeria, said the World Day Against the Death Penalty serves as a critical reminder that justice must not come at the cost of human life.
“It is a call to empathy, reflection and action,” she stated.
“ASF France reaffirms its commitment by providing legal assistance and support to people facing the death penalty through its network of pro bono lawyers.”
She disclosed that ASF France had supported over 800 individuals facing capital punishment across 10 Nigerian states, ensuring their right to adequate legal representation and humane treatment under the law.
According to Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, “Recent statistics show that 26 African countries have abolished the death penalty, 14 still retain it, and 15 are classified as de facto abolitionists. This is a clear indication that the continent is progressively moving toward the global trend of ending this irreversible form of punishment.”
Citing data from the Nigerian Correctional Service’s 2025 report, she said over 3,500 persons remain on death row in Nigeria — one of the largest such populations in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“These figures highlight the urgency of sustained advocacy and reform toward the abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria,” she added.
Uzoma-Iwuchukwu commended President Tinubu’s decision to commute seven death sentences to life imprisonment, describing it as “an encouraging step that reflects the growing recognition for a more humane justice system.”
“ASF France stands with all those around the world who believe that every life has value and that dignity, not death, should be at the heart of justice,” she said.
“Together, we reaffirm our call for an official moratorium on executions as a crucial step toward abolition of the death penalty.”
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Anthony Ojukwu, represented by Deputy Director (Legal), Pwadumdi Okoh, noted that the death penalty remains one of the most contentious human rights issues of the time.
He stressed that human rights work is for everyone and called for continued engagement on issues surrounding capital punishment in Nigeria.
