Abuja: The Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA) has launched a research report analysing the experiences of women on death row in Nigeria and calling for gender-responsive reforms in the criminal justice system. The report titled ‘Beyond Her Sentence: A Technical Analysis of Gender and Capital Punishment in Nigeria’ was presented in Abuja by HBBA’s Executive Director, Funke Adeoye.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the study was supported by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and the Agence Fran§aise de D©veloppement (AFD). Adeoye stated that the launch coincided with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, noting that the research took 10 months and included a stakeholder validation conducted earlier in the year.
The research was carried out by Ms Ogechi Ogu and Prof. Ibrahim Bello of Bayero University, Kano, whose expertise in criminal justice, sociology, and human rights guided the research design and fieldwork. HBBA collaborated with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to access 10 custodial facilities across the country, verifying official records of 82 women on death row. The facilities visited included the old Benin Custodial Centre, Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre, and Port Harcourt Maximum Security Correctional Centre, among others.
Adeoye highlighted that Nigeria retains the death penalty under statutory, customary, and Sharia legal systems for offences such as murder, armed robbery, adultery, and same-sex relations in certain jurisdictions. She pointed out that women in the criminal justice system face gender-based vulnerabilities, such as limited access to legal support, poverty, cultural pressures, and bias during investigations and trials.
The report reveals that nearly half of the women on death row were between 18 and 35 years old, with over one-third having no formal education, while only 10% attained tertiary education. Most of these women are mothers, leaving their children in unstable care arrangements. Furthermore, more than one-third of the women experienced gender-based violence, such as domestic abuse and forced marriage.
Adeoye noted that many women lacked knowledge of the laws under which they were convicted, and more than half considered their trials non-transparent. Stigma from families and communities exacerbated their emotional distress, particularly for those charged with sexual or marital offences. Despite these challenges, more than 80% of the women interviewed believed in the possibility of rehabilitation and had been exposed to vocational training in custodial facilities.
The report recommends preventive measures through awareness and early intervention, including campaigns against child marriage and domestic abuse. It also proposes programs to enhance women’s legal literacy and access to protection, along with gender-sensitive training for police, prosecutors, and judicial officers.
Adeoye urged the Federal Government to declare a moratorium on executions as a step toward abolition, aligning with international human rights standards. The report also calls for legal and systemic reforms, including gender-sensitive sentencing and improved transparency in trials. Adeoye emphasized the need for reforms to protect vulnerable women and expressed HBBA’s commitment to reviewing compelling cases for possible appeal or clemency.
In his goodwill message, the NCoS Controller General, Mr. Sylvester Nwakuche, represented by Dr. Adenike Sheyindemi, pledged the service’s commitment to addressing gender-related challenges faced by women on death row. He described the report as a groundbreaking study that examines the intersection of gender and capital punishment in Nigeria, serving as an advocacy tool highlighting systemic biases within the criminal justice system.
The report’s findings, Nwakuche said, offer insights that could shape policy and discussions on justice and equality. The service views the report as an essential resource for policymakers, legal professionals, and human rights advocates, hoping it will inspire critical reflection and positive change within the justice sector.