Bauchi Yet to Execute Any Death Sentence Since 1999

At least 37 inmates — 36 men and one woman — remain on death row in Bauchi State, awaiting execution for capital offences, according to the Nigerian Correctional Service.

The Service’s Public Relations Officer in Bauchi, Mr. Ahmed Tata, disclosed on Tuesday that no democratically elected governor in the state has signed a death warrant since the return to civil rule in 1999. He noted, however, that executions may have been carried out under past military administrations.

Legal expert Jubrin S. Jubrin urged state governors nationwide to act on death sentences once all appeal processes have been exhausted, stressing that justice demands the execution of duly confirmed capital punishments. He pointed out that geographical, cultural, and legal factors — as well as the role of the Attorney General in advising governors — often shape decisions on whether to sign such warrants.

Civil society leader Garba Jinjiri, Chairman of the Network for Civil Society Organisations in Bauchi, argued that the irreversible nature of executions is a major reason governors hesitate to approve them. He warned that wrongful convictions, ongoing appeals, and ethical opposition to the death penalty often weigh heavily on governors’ minds. Signing could also invite criticism from human rights groups and the public, he added.

Dr. Muhammad Reza, a political analyst from Jigawa, said Nigeria’s democratic system has inadvertently slowed the enforcement of capital punishment by placing the final decision in the hands of governors and the president. He suggested that concerns over foreign donor relations and human rights perception play a significant role in the reluctance to sign death warrants — a stance he believes has emboldened criminality.

Lawyer Hassan Muhammad highlighted that Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution grants governors the power to approve executions, commute sentences, or pardon convicts. This authority, coupled with flaws in Nigeria’s justice system — such as prolonged trials, weak investigations, and the risk of wrongful convictions — often deters governors from taking action. Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights treaties further complicate the issue, he said.

Another commentator, Yusuf Abubakar, linked the inaction to sustained campaigns by human rights and development organisations against capital punishment. He observed that Nigeria’s strong religious culture, which emphasises mercy and forgiveness, often influences governors’ personal stances on executions.

Although capital punishment remains legal in Nigeria, the convergence of legal caution, moral hesitation, political sensitivity, and procedural delays has created a de facto moratorium on executions — leaving thousands of condemned inmates in prolonged uncertainty.