By Correspondent in Abuja.
Germany, Australia, and Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) France — an international non-governmental organisation also known as Lawyers Without Borders — have renewed calls for the abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria.
The three entities, however, commended President Bola Tinubu for commuting the death sentences of seven inmates to life imprisonment as part of his recent presidential pardon granted to 175 persons.
They made the call during the screening of a movie titled “Just Mercy” in Abuja, organised by ASF France to commemorate the 2025 World Day Against the Death Penalty.
The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, reaffirmed Germany’s unwavering opposition to capital punishment, describing it as an affront to human dignity and justice.
“We believe the death penalty is not merely a legal matter; it touches on the core values of justice, human dignity, and the right to life.
The irreversible nature of the death penalty means that mistakes and wrongful convictions can never be corrected.
Germany abolished the death penalty more than 70 years ago, and we continue to advocate globally for its total eradication,” she said.
Günther urged the Nigerian government to take further steps toward abolishing the practice.
Mr. Neil Sanderson, Chargé d’Affaires of the Australian High Commission, also restated Australia’s firm position against the death penalty.
“Australia’s position is clear — we oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and continue to call for its global abolition.
It is a cruel, inhumane, and ineffective punishment that undermines human dignity and justice,” he said.
Sanderson noted that global momentum toward abolition was growing, with 144 countries now classified as abolitionist in law or practice. He added that several African countries, including Ghana, Zambia, Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic, and Zimbabwe, had recently made historic progress by abolishing capital punishment.
Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, Country Director of ASF France in Nigeria, said the World Day Against the Death Penalty serves as a reminder that justice must never come at the expense of human life.
“It is a call to empathy, reflection, and action. ASF France reaffirms its commitment by providing legal assistance and support to people facing the death penalty through our network of pro bono lawyers,” she said.
She explained that ASF France has supported over 800 individuals facing the death penalty across 10 Nigerian states, ensuring they receive adequate legal representation and fair treatment under the law.
Uzoma-Iwuchukwu noted that recent statistics show 26 African countries have abolished the death penalty, 14 retain it, while 15 are considered de facto abolitionist states.
“This clearly shows that Africa is progressively aligning with the global trend toward ending this irreversible form of punishment,” she said.
Citing the 2025 report of the Nigerian Correctional Service, she revealed that more than 3,500 persons remain on death row in Nigeria, representing one of the largest death row populations in sub-Saharan Africa.
“These figures highlight the urgency of sustained advocacy and reform toward abolishing the death penalty in Nigeria.
ASF France stands with all those who believe that every life has value and that dignity, not death, should be at the heart of justice.
We call for a humane justice system and an official moratorium on executions as a crucial step toward abolition,” she added.
Uzoma-Iwuchukwu commended President Tinubu’s commutation of death sentences as “an encouraging step that reflects a growing recognition for a more humane justice system.”
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr. Anthony Ojukwu, represented by the Deputy Director (Legal), Mrs. Pwadumdi Okoh, described the death penalty as one of the most contentious human rights issues of modern times.
“Human rights work is for everyone, and the issue of abolishing the death penalty remains one of the most debated human rights concerns globally,” he said.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
