Abstract
This article comprehensively examines the death penalty, its ethical, legal, and societal
dimensions, with a focus on Nigeria. Despite its longstanding use as a punitive measure
for capital offences, empirical evidence and global trends increasingly challenge its
efficacy as a deterrent for achieving retributive justice. While the death penalty retains
constitutional legitimacy in Nigeria, its implementation is hindered by systemic
inefficiencies, including an unofficial moratorium resulting from executive reluctance to
authorise executions. This has led to the indefinite detention of death row inmates, raising
significant ethical and human rights concerns, including psychological trauma and
violations of international legal standards. By situating the Nigerian experience within a
global context of declining support for the death penalty, the article argues for its
abolition. It posits that life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, coupled with
targeted reforms to address the root causes of crime, offers a more humane and effective
alternative
dimensions, with a focus on Nigeria. Despite its longstanding use as a punitive measure
for capital offences, empirical evidence and global trends increasingly challenge its
efficacy as a deterrent for achieving retributive justice. While the death penalty retains
constitutional legitimacy in Nigeria, its implementation is hindered by systemic
inefficiencies, including an unofficial moratorium resulting from executive reluctance to
authorise executions. This has led to the indefinite detention of death row inmates, raising
significant ethical and human rights concerns, including psychological trauma and
violations of international legal standards. By situating the Nigerian experience within a
global context of declining support for the death penalty, the article argues for its
abolition. It posits that life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, coupled with
targeted reforms to address the root causes of crime, offers a more humane and effective
alternative
Keywords:
Death penalty
death row
abolition movement
unofficial moratorium
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