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
OCTOBER 6, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: GOVERNOR AKEREDOLU PARDONS 18 CONVICTED INMATES IN ONDO
The Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has granted state pardons to 18 convicts in celebration of Nigeria’s 61st independence anniversary.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR KILLING WIFE IN JIGAWA
A Jigawa State High Court sitting in Gumel on 5 August 2021 sentenced a 40-year-old man Rabi’u Mamman to death by hanging for killing his wife.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MINISTER OF INTERIOR ASKS GOVERNORS TO SIGN DEATH WARRANTS OF 3,000
The Nigerian Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, on 23 July 2021 urged state governors to sign the death warrants of the 3,008 condemned criminals in the country waiting for execution.
- JULY 22, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING HIS BOSS’S WIFE
A 37-year-old man, Adeyemi Morenikeji, on 16 July 2021 was sentenced to death in Oyo State for the killing of Mrs Racheal Ayanwale, his boss’s wife.
JULY 19, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO POLICEMEN, THREE OTHERS TO DIE FOR KIDNAPPING
Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of the state on 16 July 2021 sentenced two police officers and three other persons to death for kidnapping in the state.
JULY 19, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR ARMED ROBBERY
A High Court in Abeokuta, on 16 July 2021 sentenced a 44-year-old man, Tosin Shodunke to death by hanging for armed robbery.
JULY 13, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 24-YEAR-OLD SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR STEALING PHONES, CASH IN EKITI
An Ekiti State High Court on 29 June 2021 sentenced a 24-year-old man, Sola Jegede, to death by hanging for robbing three men of their phones and money.
JULY 7, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: KIDNAPPER SENTENCED TO DEATH IN BAYELSA
An Ogbia High Court sitting in Yenagoa on 28 June 2021 sentenced to death by firing squad a 39-year old man, Charles Nikson, for his involvement in the November 2020 thwarted abduction of Mrs. Vivian Okoye.
JUNE 19, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 22-YEAR-OLD MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER ARMED ROBBERY IN EKITI
A High Court in Ado Ekiti on 17 June 2021 sentenced a 22-year-old man, Kehinde Olajide, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
APRIL 21, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: DETAINED WITHOUT CHARGES, RENOWNED ATHEIST STILL IN PRISON
The self-proclaimed atheist Mubarak Bala is still in detention in northern Nigeria after he was arrested by the police and taken to an unknown destination, according to his family and human rights organizations, Afp reported on 20 April 2021.
FEBRUARY 25, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: JIGAWA STATE GOVERNOR SIGNS LAW APPROVING DEATH SENTENCE FOR RAPISTS
The Governor of Jigawa State, Muhammad Badaru, on 24 February 2021 assented to a bill stipulating stiffer punishment for rapists.
- FEBRUARY 16, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: DISMISSED SARS OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLING
A State High Court in Benin City, Edo Sate, on 12 February 2021, sentenced a police constable, Joseph Omotosho, to death for conspiring with four other constables, said to be at large, to kill a car dealer in 2015.