The Centre for Justice, Mercy and Reconciliation (CJMR) has called for stronger safeguards against wrongful convictions and executions in Nigeria, insisting that the protection of potentially innocent people must remain a priority in the administration of criminal justice.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Pastor Hezekiah Deboboye Olujobi, said its advocacy was not aimed at abolishing the death penalty but at preventing miscarriages of justice, particularly in cases where convicted persons face execution despite claims of innocence.
In a statement titled “The Death Penalty: Justice for the Guilty, Protection for the Innocent,” Olujobi said capital punishment should be imposed only where guilt has been established beyond reasonable doubt through credible evidence and a fair trial, in accordance with applicable law.
He maintained that the gravity of offences such as premeditated murder and ritual killing should not justify convictions based on unreliable evidence or inadequate investigations.
“Our primary concern is the prevention of miscarriages of justice, particularly where innocent people face the possibility of execution,” he said.
Olujobi argued that while claims of innocence should be investigated rather than automatically accepted, they should not be dismissed without proper examination.
He identified concerns surrounding police investigations, identification evidence, contradictory testimonies, confessional statements and convictions that, in CJMR’s assessment, warrant further scrutiny.
The organisation also raised concerns about prisoners who have spent decades in custody while maintaining their innocence, including some whose appeals have been exhausted.
“Once an innocent person has been executed, no judicial review, presidential pardon or compensation can restore that life,” Olujobi said, highlighting what he described as the irreversible consequences of capital punishment.
CJMR maintains position on capital punishment:
The justice advocate said the organisation recognises the seriousness of violent crimes and believes offenders whose guilt is lawfully established should face the penalties prescribed by law, including capital punishment where applicable.
He stressed, however, that the pursuit of punishment must not come at the expense of reliable evidence, due process and the protection of innocent people.
“The greatest tragedy is not merely that a guilty person may escape punishment, but also that an innocent person may be executed while the actual perpetrator remains free,” he said.
Olujobi cited the experience of Jerry Givens, a former Virginia corrections officer who carried out 62 executions before becoming an outspoken opponent of the death penalty.
Givens later raised concerns about the possibility of executing an innocent person.
The Death Penalty Information Center has documented Givens’ experience and his subsequent opposition to capital punishment, underscoring the enduring debate over the risk of irreversible judicial error.
Calls for review of death row cases:
CJMR’s position comes amid its broader advocacy for the review of convictions it considers questionable.
In October 2026, the organisation appealed to the governors of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti states to review the cases of 27 inmates, including 23 on death row and four serving life sentences.
The group said concerns about evidence, delayed appeals and outstanding petitions warranted attention from the relevant authorities.
The allegations and concerns are those of CJMR and do not, by themselves, establish that the inmates were wrongly convicted.
The organisation, which works on criminal justice issues and supports people who claim to have been wrongfully detained or convicted, says its work includes case reviews, investigations, advocacy, restorative justice and support for released inmates.
Olujobi said the organisation would continue to advocate for a justice system that holds guilty offenders accountable while providing meaningful safeguards for people who may have been wrongly convicted.
He reiterated that its campaign is directed against wrongful convictions, unreliable investigations, prolonged detention and the execution of innocent people, not against capital punishment itself.
