Australia, Germany, and ASF Citing human rights concerns, France calls on Nigeria to abolish the death penalty

Nigeria should eliminate the death sentence, according to Germany, Australia, and ASF France, who raise concerns about justice reform and human rights.

Calls to abolish the death sentence in Nigeria have come from Avocats Sans Frontières France, the German Embassy in Nigeria, and the Australian Embassy.

The three, who arranged the weekend screening of the film “Just Mercy” in Abuja, urge the federal and state governments to abolish the death sentence while acknowledging that no one on Nigeria’s death roll has been put to death in the country’s nine years. 

With the assistance of the Australian High Commission in Nigeria and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Abuja, the film was shown in honor of the 2025 World Day Against the Death Penalty. Through the film and speeches, Avocats Sans Frontières France, Nigeria, joined voices from around the world in demanding the abolition of the death penalty.

Their ongoing collaborative efforts to uphold human rights and advance an equitable judicial system include this event. It brings together partners and stakeholders from the legal community, civil society organizations, government officials, diplomats, students, the private sector, and the media with the goal of educating the public about the death penalty’s implications for human rights and igniting discussions about its abolition in Nigeria and throughout Africa.

Recent statistics show that 26 African nations have abolished the death penalty, 14 retain it, and 15 are considered de facto abolitionists. This shows that the continent is gradually following the global trend of abolishing this permanent form of punishment. 

According to the Nigerian Correctional Service’s 2025 report, Nigeria still has more than 3,500 people on death row, making it one of the continent’s highest death row populations. 

Stakeholders say these numbers demonstrate how urgent it is to continue advocating for and reforming Nigeria’s death sentence system. But they praised President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to commute seven death row inmates to life in prison, saying it’s a positive step that shows the growing support for a more compassionate legal system.

Germany’s steadfast dedication to the worldwide movement was reaffirmed by Annett Günther, the Federal Republic of Germany’s ambassador to Nigeria, in her speech. 

“We believe that the death penalty touches on fundamental values of justice, human dignity, and the right to life, and it is not just a legal issue,” she stated. Because the death penalty is permanent, errors and erroneous convictions cannot be undone. Germany outlawed the death penalty almost 70 years ago, and we still push for its total abolition worldwide.

Germany would continue to urge friendly countries, such as Nigeria, to abolish the death penalty, she added, praising President Tinubu’s recent decision to commute the death sentence of seven convicted criminals to jail terms.

Additionally, Mr. Neil Sanderson, Chargé d’Affaires of the Australian High Commission, highlighted his government’s steadfast position during his remarks at the event: “Australia’s position is clear, we oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and continue to call for its global abolition.” It is a harsh, inhumane, and ineffectual punishment that compromises justice and human decency. The global movement is encouraging, and we applaud Nigeria’s consideration of abolition as a component of its constitutional reform process.

He added that 144 nations have abolitionist laws or practices in place, with countries like Ghana, Zambia, Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic, and Zimbabwe having recently made history.

The goal of ASF France’s screening of the film “Just Mercy,” a compelling true story about justice, redemption, and the struggle against false convictions, is to raise awareness of the ethical, legal, and personal implications of the death penalty. 

Avocats Sans Frontières France’s Country Director in Nigeria, Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, issued the following succinct statement: “The World Day Against the Death Penalty serves as a reminder that justice must never come at the cost of human life.” It is an exhortation to action, introspection, and empathy. Through its network of pro bono attorneys, ASF France confirms its commitment to helping those facing the death penalty by offering legal support and assistance. We have helped more than 800 people who are facing the death penalty in ten Nigerian states so far, making sure they have access to quality legal counsel and are treated fairly and humanely by the law. ASF France supports people everywhere who recognize the worth of human person and feel that justice should be based on dignity rather than death. For everyone, we demand a decent justice system. 

In order to abolish the death sentence, the three organizations—Avocats Sans Frontières France, Nigeria, the Federal Republic of Germany Embassy in Abuja, and the Australian High Commission in Nigeria—reaffirmed their demand for an official moratorium on executions.