- Commend Tinubu for commuting death sentences to life imprisonment
The German and Australian Embassies in Nigeria, alongside Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) France, have renewed calls for the abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria, urging the federal and state governments to expunge capital punishment from the nation’s legal system.
The call was made during a special screening of the film Just Mercy in Abuja over the weekend, organised to mark the 2025 World Day Against the Death Penalty. The event was jointly hosted by ASF France in Nigeria, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Australian High Commission in Nigeria.
The organisers commended President Bola Tinubu for recently commuting the death sentences of seven inmates to life imprisonment, describing the move as a “commendable and humane step” toward a fairer justice system.
According to recent data from the Nigerian Correctional Service, more than 3,500 inmates remain on death row across the country, one of the largest death row populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. While 26 African countries have abolished the death penalty, 15 others are classified as de facto abolitionists, signalling growing regional momentum toward abolition.
In her remarks, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, reaffirmed Germany’s firm opposition to capital punishment. “The death penalty is not only a legal issue but a moral one that touches on justice, human dignity, and the right to life,” she said. “Its irreversible nature means wrongful convictions cannot be corrected. Germany abolished it over 70 years ago and continues to advocate for its global eradication.”
Chargé d’Affaires of the Australian High Commission, Mr. Neil Sanderson, echoed similar sentiments, stating that “Australia opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as it is cruel, inhumane, and ineffective.” He noted that 144 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice, and praised Nigeria’s ongoing constitutional reform process for considering its removal.
ASF France’s Country Director, Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, highlighted the organisation’s legal support for individuals on death row, saying that over 800 people across 10 Nigerian states have benefited from their pro bono legal assistance. “Justice must never come at the cost of human life,” she said. “Dignity, not death, should be at the heart of justice.”
The trio — ASF France, the German Embassy, and the Australian High Commission — jointly called for an official moratorium on executions as a crucial step toward the total abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria.
