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 23, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES 22-YEAR-OLD MAN TO DEATH BY HANGING IN KANO
A Kano State High Court sitting on 20 January 2020 sentenced 22-year-old Ibrahim Suleiman to death by hanging for killing a 5-year-old girl.
JANUARY 17, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: APPEAL COURT SENTENCES THREE TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR ARMED ROBBERY AND CULPABLE HOMICIDE
The Yola Division of the Court of Appeal has sentenced three men to death by hanging for armed robbery and culpable homicide, reported The Nation on 16 January 2020.
JANUARY 7, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 2,745 CONDEMNED INMATES AWAITING DEATH NATIONWIDE
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), says about 2,745 inmates condemned to death are awaiting execution in its facilities across the country.
- JANUARY 1, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Death sentences are mandatory for murder but also non lethal offences
Death sentences are mandatory for murder but also non lethal offences
DECEMBER 11, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING CO-WIFE, SEVEN STEP CHILDREN
State High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital has sentenced a woman, Mrs Agnes Nwefuru, to death by hanging for killing her co-wife and seven children.
- NOVEMBER 21, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: NO GOVERNOR SUPPORTS DEATH PENALTY AS PUNISHMENT FOR HATE SPEECH
Governors of the thirty- six states of the country under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), said on 20 November 2019 that no governor has come out to support the death penalty proposed for Hate Speech offenders.
NOVEMBER 15, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KIDNAPPING LAGOS MONARCH, KILLING PALACE GUARD
An Ikeja Special Offences Court on 13 November 2019 sentenced to death three men who kidnapped a Lagos monarch and killed his palace guard.
- NOVEMBER 14, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA REINTRODUCES DEATH PENALTY BILL FOR HATE SPEECH THAT INCITES MURDER
The Nigerian Senate has reportedly reintroduced a bill, that it had previously abandoned, which will impose the death penalty on anybody found guilty of hate speech that incites the death of another person.
NOVEMBER 6, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: KANO GOVT APPROVES DEATH PENALTY FOR KIDNAPPERS
The Kano State Government has approved death penalty for anyone found guilty of kidnapping across the state.
OCTOBER 29, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES 2 MEN TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR MURDER IN EKITI
An Ado Ekiti High Court, has sentenced two men to death by hanging for conspiracy, murder and unlawful possession of human skull, the Pulse reported on 28 October 2019.
OCTOBER 18, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT PASSES DEATH SENTENCE ON KILLER OF MTN STAFF
Kwara state High Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital on 15 October 2019 sentenced killer of a staff of telecoms giant MTN, one Ogundele David to death by hanging.
OCTOBER 1, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SEVEN CONDEMNED INMATES, 18 OTHERS GET PARDON IN ONDO
The Ondo State government has pardoned 18 inmates across the various prison facilities in the state.