Legal experts and criminal justice advocates have renewed calls on the Nigerian government to abolish the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment.
They urged a comprehensive review of existing criminal laws to remove capital punishment and promote a justice system that prioritises rehabilitation over retribution.
The renewed advocacy came during the commemoration of the 23rd World Day Against the Use of the Death Penalty, themed “Death Penalty Protects No One.”
The event also featured the launch of The Inclusion Project documentary titled “Justice Reimagined: Voices of Loss,” which captures the emotional and personal experiences of victims affected by capital offences in Nigeria.
The documentary offers a rare insight into how the death penalty impacts both victims and the wider justice system. It challenges the commonly held belief that capital punishment serves as an effective deterrent, highlighting instead the risk of wrongful convictions and the irreversible consequences of executing the innocent.
Through the stories of those left behind, the film advocates for a justice model grounded in fairness, rehabilitation, and human dignity. It calls on the Nigerian government and the public to re-evaluate the nation’s continued reliance on the death penalty.
“It is our hope that this documentary will serve as an educational tool for Nigerians on the use of the death penalty and a call to the government to put a stop to the application of the death penalty in Nigeria,” said TIP’s Director, Mrs Pamela Okoroigwe.
“For too long, the death penalty has been defended on behalf of the victims without actually asking them what they want. This documentary makes it clear that many victims in Nigeria are rejecting the death penalty not out of sympathy for offenders, but because they understand that killing in response to killing does not deliver justice, it only deepens injustice,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Abiodun Odusote, noted that empirical research has consistently shown that the death penalty does not deter crime.
“Several studies have concluded that the death penalty does not in any way deter crime. In Nigeria, we have been applying death sentences from time immemorial, yet crimes like murder, kidnapping, and banditry continue to rise,” he said.
Odusote pointed out that although judges are legally bound to pronounce death sentences, the reluctance of state governors to sign execution warrants suggests an unofficial moratorium is already in place. “Why don’t we have a formal moratorium such that there will not be a pronouncement of the death penalty, but the offenders will be incarcerated, serving prison terms where they can show remorse for their offences?” he asked.
In his remarks, Nathaniel Ngwu, Convener of the Criminal Justice Network of Nigeria, said the documentary highlighted the pain and disillusionment of victims who have lost loved ones to violent crime. “It’s a clear indication that the provision of the death penalty is not in any way helping victims of crime,” he stated.
Ngwu urged the Nigerian government to declare an official moratorium on capital punishment and reassess its effect on those currently on death row. He suggested Nigeria could learn from countries like Malawi, Sierra Leone, and the United Kingdom, which have abolished or suspended the death penalty without seeing a rise in crime.
“We want to be like those nations that declared a suspension of death sentences and adopted alternatives. If we can borrow and look at how they achieved that, we can replicate similar success in Nigeria,” he said.
The event concluded with a strong consensus among stakeholders: that Nigeria’s criminal justice system must evolve towards a more humane and restorative model, ensuring justice not just for society, but for victims and offenders alike.
