Nigeria
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- federal presidential republic
- CONSTITUTION
- a new constitution was adopted in 1999
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and tribal norms
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, Senate and House of Representatives
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court (judges appointed by the Provisional Government Council); Federal Court of Appeal (judges appointed by the federal government on the recommendation of the Advisory Judicial Committee)
RELIGIONS
50% Muslims, 40% Christians, 10% local beliefs
From the country
- JANUARY 1, 2003NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The first Sharia-based execution in Nigeria since its...
The first Sharia-based execution in Nigeria since its introduction took place in 2002
- JANUARY 1, 2003NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Armed robbery, murder, treason, and offences against...
Armed robbery, murder, treason, and offences against the State are capital crimes under national law
- JANUARY 1, 2003NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria has signed and ratified the statutes of the...
Nigeria has signed and ratified the statutes of the International Criminal Court, the UN permanent judicial body capable of trying individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes
- JANUARY 1, 2003NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Death sentences for crimes such as murder are usually...
Death sentences for crimes such as murder are usually carried out by hanging, but firing squads are sometimes used to kill armed robbers and convicted traitors
- DECEMBER 29, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
"Religion and law are supposed to guide society and...
"Religion and law are supposed to guide society and to enable human beings to live in harmony
- DECEMBER 19, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Ahmed Mu'azu, Governor of Bauchi State, advised sharia...
Ahmed Mu'azu, Governor of Bauchi State, advised sharia judges in the state not to rush judgement on women accused of adultery and thus threatened with death by stoning
- NOVEMBER 29, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria's top Muslim authorities ruled that a religious...
Nigeria's top Muslim authorities ruled that a religious edict calling for a journalist to be killed "should be ignored"
- NOVEMBER 28, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Hands Off Cain, which sustains the appeal made yesterday...
Hands Off Cain, which sustains the appeal made yesterday by the Christian leaders of Nigeria urging the federal government to take precautionary measures for the Christian community by calling on the Italian government and the European Union to take actio
- NOVEMBER 26, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Islamic authorities in the northern Nigerian state...
Islamic authorities in the northern Nigerian state of Zamfara issued a fatwa urging Muslims to kill Isioma Daniel, a writer for the private daily This Day, whose November 16 article about the Miss World pageant sparked deadly riots across the country
- NOVEMBER 25, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The Red Cross said that 200 people died during clashes...
The Red Cross said that 200 people died during clashes in Kaduna
- NOVEMBER 21, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
At least 10 people were killed after thousands of rioting...
At least 10 people were killed after thousands of rioting Muslim youths torched churches, looted shops and destroyed vehicles in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna amid rising Muslim fury over the country's staging of the Miss World pageant
- NOVEMBER 18, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The troubled Miss World contest faced further controversy...
The troubled Miss World contest faced further controversy today after it emerged that 11 children in host nation Nigeria could have their hands amputated for petty theft