Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA) on Tuesday unveiled a groundbreaking research report examining the experiences of women on death row in Nigeria and advocating for gender-responsive reforms across 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 Executive Director, Funke Adeoye. The 10-month study was supported by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
Adeoye said the launch aligns with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and followed a stakeholder validation exercise earlier in the year. The research was led by Ms Ogechi Ogu and Prof. Ibrahim Bello of Bayero University, Kano, whose expertise in criminal justice, sociology and human rights shaped the study’s design and fieldwork.
HBBA, working with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), accessed 10 custodial facilities nationwide and verified records of 82 women on death row. A total of 60 trauma-informed interviews were conducted across 10 states.
Facilities visited included Old Benin Custodial Centre, Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Ibara Custodial Centre (Abeokuta), Kano Central Medium Custodial Centre, Maiduguri Maximum Security Centre, Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre, Birnin Kebbi Medium Centre, Old Minna Custodial Centre, Suleja Custodial Centre and Uyo Custodial Centre.
Adeoye noted that Nigeria retains the death penalty under statutory, customary and Sharia law, applying it to offences ranging from murder and armed robbery to adultery and same-sex relations in some jurisdictions.
She said the report highlights significant gender-based vulnerabilities faced by women in the justice system, including limited access to legal support, poverty, cultural pressures and biases during investigations and trials.
According to findings, nearly half of the women on death row were aged between 18 and 35. Over one-third had no formal education, while only 10 per cent attained tertiary education. Most were mothers, leaving children in unstable care arrangements. More than one-third had experienced gender-based violence such as domestic abuse, child marriage or forced marriage.
She added that many lacked knowledge of the laws under which they were convicted, and over half perceived their trials as non-transparent. Stigma from families and communities worsened their emotional distress, particularly for those charged with marital or sexual-related offences.
Despite their circumstances, more than 80 per cent of the women interviewed believed rehabilitation was possible, having participated in vocational training in custody. Many also viewed the death penalty as neither just nor effective.
Adeoye said the report’s recommendations include preventive measures through awareness and early intervention campaigns, legal literacy programmes, gender-sensitive training for police, prosecutors and judicial officers, and stronger referral systems for survivors of violence.
The report urges the Federal Government to declare a moratorium on executions as a first step toward abolition, in line with global human rights standards. It also calls for reforms such as gender-responsive sentencing, review of discriminatory evidentiary rules, expanded legal aid and improved trial transparency.
Adeoye said HBBA plans to review compelling cases of women on death row for possible appeal, clemency or other interventions, adding that the findings reflect deep systemic inequalities that make abolition a moral and legal imperative.
In a goodwill message, Controller-General of NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche—represented by Dr. Adenike Sheyindemi, Assistant Controller of Corrections and Gender Advisor—pledged the Service’s commitment to gender-sensitive reforms. He described the report as a critical advocacy tool that exposes biases affecting women and offers insights capable of shaping national justice policies.
Representatives of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, AFD and other stakeholders praised HBBA for the extensive research.