Edi Umoh
A Law graduate from the University of Ibadan (UI) has ignited call for enforcement of capital punishment in the country to serve as deterrent to others.
Mariam Chizaram Abboud, a Law graduate from the University of Ibadan, caught the attention of many internet users on X (formerly Twitter) for her interesting project topic to agitate for the execution.
Before now, Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s ex-President had in 2013 encouraged state governors to sign death warrants to decongest prisons.
Similarly, Malcom Omirhobo, a legal practitioner in 2025 had argued for the retention and enforcement of the death penalty, citing Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
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Abboud became a viral sensation on social media owing to her fascinating project topic: Let God judge them but send them to him first: Reclaiming justice in Nigeria through enforced capital punishment.
The lady, who had celebrated making history in her family as she finished with a second-class honours from the prestigious institution, stressed the need to first send the condemned to God Almighty seen as a way of reclaiming justice.
She displayed the front cover of her project work, and expressed the belief that her late parents are proud of her academic achievement.
People who noticed her project topic expressed eagerness to read her project work when it gets published, while others were impressed by the topic she used.
Straightnews gathered that since the advent of democracy in Nigeria, no President or governor under the civilian rule has ever signed courts verdicts for execution of the condemned
It is reported that as at July 2025, 3,833 inmates, showing 3,754 males and 79 females sentenced to death are in different correctional centres awaiting execution.
Reacting to the development in the social media, Ofobutu Marcus wrote ‘‘She probably derived that from Vladimir Putin’s point about terrorist. “You don’t have power to forgive terrorist, you can only send them to God for forgiveness” Very nice topic.’’
Also, Ajiila Damilola commented ‘‘This is a concept I have been amplifying for some time now; myself being a security consultant. My voice has not been heard because of limited platforms. Since 1999 no condemned criminal has executed on the account that executive governor whose constitution is empowered to sign death warrants.
‘‘Chicken away from their responsibilities. After police have made a huge effort to arrest, investigate and prosecute. Governors refused to sign death warrants. No wonder killings become almost normal in our country. Remember, any bad behavior that is not adequately and promptly punished, the behavior is being encouraged.’’
