NHRC urges Nigeria to declare official death penalty moratorium

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the Nigerian federal government to declare an official moratorium on executions. The commission also urged state governors to use their prerogative of mercy to commute death sentences to life imprisonment.

Chief Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary of the NHRC, noted that Nigeria is approaching ten consecutive years without a state execution. While this serves as a de facto moratorium, Ojukwu argued that the continued imposition of death sentences and the detention of over 3,000 inmates on death row raise significant human rights concerns.

Ojukwu highlighted systemic issues that undermine procedural justice, including forced confessions, inadequate access to pro bono legal representation, and prolonged pre-trial detention. He advocated for a review of laws that mandate death sentences, suggesting that judges should have the discretion to consider mitigating circumstances to ensure compliance with constitutional rights to life and human dignity.