- He said this in Abuja on Thursday during a meeting with the Death Penalty Project and British High Commission officials
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said the legislature is open to discussions on abolishing the death penalty in Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday during a meeting with the Death Penalty Project and British High Commission officials, Kalu noted that while Nigeria has observed a moratorium on executions since 2014, capital punishment remains legal for crimes like murder and armed robbery.
He highlighted the global shift towards abolition, with over 130 countries ending the practice. Within Africa, 48 out of 55 nations have abolished or suspended executions, with only Egypt and Somalia carrying them out in 2023.
Kalu stated that while no bill on the matter is currently before the House, discussions and public hearings will begin soon to determine if legal reforms are needed.
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