Former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for the introduction of the d3ath penalty for corrupt leaders in Nigeria
Obi made the statement during a courtesy visit to media mogul Dele Momodu on May 15, 2025. He stressed that corruption has deeply eroded the country’s development, productivity, and values, and suggested that only strict punitive measures can effectively tackle the crisis.
Citing China’s anti-corruption laws as a model, Obi proposed a tiered system of punishment based on the amount of money stolen.
“There is an amount you steal, it is death sentence. There is an amount you steal, it is life imprisonment. There is an amount you steal, it is not less than ten years imprisonment,” Obi said.
He emphasized the need for leaders with competence, capacity, and compassion, noting that visionary leadership is crucial to ending impunity and restoring integrity in public service.
Obi’s remarks have stirred debate, with some Nigerians praising the proposal as bold and necessary, while others question its feasibility and fairness in the current judicial system.
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