Death penalty not an effective deterrent to crimes, says HBBA
By Ibironke Ariyo
The Executive Director, Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA), Ms Oluwafunke Adeoye, says the death penalty is not an effective deterrent to crimes.
She said that the death penalty no longer serves any legitimate purpose and is often used against the most vulnerable in society, including the poor, mentally ill, and marginalised individuals.
“At Hope Behind Bars Africa, we are strongly against the use of the death penalty. It is irreversible, and in a system marked by flaws and human rights violations, the risk of executing an innocent person is unacceptably high,” she said.
Adeoye noted that the organisation, as a member of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP), not only campaigns for abolition but also provides legal representation to individuals facing capital punishment.
She said that the organisation also engaged in strategic litigation, and promotes broader criminal justice reforms.
Speaking on the reality of inmates languishing on death row for years without execution, Adeoye described it as a form of prolonged mental torture that added psychological trauma to already overcrowded prison conditions.
“Death row inmates face unimaginable emotional stress. Some remain in limbo for decades, not knowing if or when they’ll be executed. That level of uncertainty is cruel and dehumanising,” she said.
On whether the death penalty should be abolished, Adeoye argued that there was no empirical evidence to support the notion that capital punishment deters crime.
“Studies consistently show that it has no deterrent effect. Instead, it perpetuates cycles of violence and denies people the opportunity for rehabilitation. Justice should be about fairness and transformation, not revenge,” she said.
Addressing the popular belief that capital punishment is necessary for grave offences like murder and terrorism, Adeoye said justice must not be driven by vengeance.
“The justice system is fallible. Mistakes are made, flawed investigations, coerced confessions, lack of proper legal defence, so applying an irreversible punishment like the death penalty in such a system is dangerous,” she said.
She, however, warned that Nigeria’s retention of capital punishment remains a significant human rights concern, citing violations from the point of arrest to trial and sentencing.
“Our justice system is riddled with delays, corruption, and discrimination. In this context, hanging or lethally injecting someone amounts to state-sanctioned cruelty. Beyond the act of execution, the secrecy and inhumanity surrounding the process are deeply troubling,” she added.
Adeoye who doubled as the founder of the organisation, advocated for major reforms in sentencing, pushing for the expansion of non-custodial sentences and restorative justice approaches.
“We must move away from punitive approaches and focus more on rehabilitation. Alternatives like community service, suspended sentences, and proper reformation programmes within correctional centres should be prioritised.
“Such reforms will ease prison overcrowding, reduce reoffending, and reshape the public perception of justice as a tool for restoration, not just punishment,” she said.
Adeoye called on Nigerian authorities to honour their international human rights obligations.
She said that Nigeria was a signatory to treaties like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“These treaties promote the right to life and prohibit inhuman punishment. Our domestic policies should reflect these commitments,” Adeoye said.
“Aligning national law with global standards will strengthen the rule of law, protect vulnerable citizens, and enhance Nigeria’s international reputation,” she said.
NAN reports that Hope Behind Bars Africa is an organisation that promotes human rights and criminal justice reforms using legal aid, advocacy and tech. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
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