Embassies and NHRC Call for Abolition of Nigeria's Death Penalty
NHRC, Avocats Sans Frontieres, Australian, German and Spanish embassies urged revocation of the death penalty at the NHRC head office in Abuja on 10 October 2026
In Brief
- •NHRC, Avocats Sans Frontieres, Australian, German and Spanish embassies urged revocation of the death penalty at the NHRC head office in Abuja on 10 October 2026
- •The call seeks to formally abolish Section 312 of the Constitution and Section 122 of the Nigeria Correctional Service Act, moving from a de‑facto moratorium to an official one
- •Over 3,000 people are currently on death‑row, and Nigeria would reach 10 consecutive years without a state execution by December 2026
- •Australian High Commissioner praised the de‑facto moratorium and urged formalisation; Spanish Ambassador highlighted the irreversibility and lack of deterrence
- •German Ambassador and Avocats Sans Frontières emphasised human‑rights and discrimination concerns
Why It Matters
The death penalty remains a contentious human‑rights issue in Nigeria, where a de‑facto moratorium has existed for a decade but the law still permits executions. Formal abolition would align Nigeria with international norms, potentially improve its human‑rights record, and reduce the burden on the criminal justice system. The involvement of multiple foreign embassies signals growing diplomatic pressure for legal reform.
Key Details
- De facto moratorium duration
- 10 consecutive years (by Dec 2026)
- Death row population
- over 3,000
- Constitutional sections targeted
- Section 312 of the Constitution and Section 122 of the Correctional Service Act
- International observance
- 10 October
Context & Background
Nigeria has maintained a de‑facto moratorium on executions since 2016, with no state executions in the last decade, but the death penalty remains in law.
Original Reporting & Sources
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