Capital Punishment in Nigeria Under Fire from Rights Advocate
The Executive Director and founder of Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA), Ms. Oluwafunke Adeoye, has called for the total abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria, labelling it a “harmful, unjust, and irreversible punishment” that does more harm than good in an already flawed justice system.
In a powerful interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Adeoye challenged the long-standing belief that capital punishment deters crime, pointing out its disproportionate impact on the poor, mentally ill, and marginalised communities.
“It Doesn’t Work – and It’s Dangerous”
“There is no evidence that the death penalty deters crime. What it does is reinforce cycles of violence and deny people the chance for rehabilitation,” – Adeoye.
Adeoye argued that capital punishment fails to serve any legitimate purpose in a democratic society. Instead of deterring crime, it inflicts psychological trauma, especially for death row inmates who are often left in limbo for years — living under constant mental torture.
Innocent Lives at Risk in a Broken System
HBBA’s position is clear: no justice system that is flawed should have the power to take life. From coerced confessions to lack of proper legal defence, Adeoye warns that wrongful executions are not just possible — they’re likely.
“The risk of executing an innocent person is too high in Nigeria’s justice system, where corruption, discrimination, and poor legal representation are widespread,” she said.
HBBA, a member of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, provides legal aid to death row inmates and works on strategic litigation while advocating for broader criminal justice reforms.
Cruel, Unjust, and Unnecessary
The practice of keeping inmates on death row for decades is described by Adeoye as state-sanctioned psychological torture.
“They live with the constant fear of death, sometimes for 10, 20 years. That uncertainty is inhumane,” she said.
What’s the Alternative?
Instead of capital punishment, Adeoye is advocating for restorative justice, non-custodial sentencing, and genuine rehabilitation. She believes a reformed justice system should focus on healing rather than revenge.
“Justice should be about fairness and transformation — not revenge,” she said.
Nigeria’s International Commitments at Stake
As a signatory to key international treaties like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Nigeria is obligated to uphold the right to life and reject cruel and inhuman punishment.
“Our domestic laws must reflect our global human rights obligations,” Adeoye urged.
Call to Action: It’s Time to Rethink Justice
Hope Behind Bars Africa is calling on lawmakers, civil society, and the public to support efforts to abolish the death penalty and invest in a justice system that prioritises rehabilitation, not retribution.
