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
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: SOLDIER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER, ARMED ROBBERY IN AKWA IBOM
Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo on September 26, 2025 sentenced a dismissed soldier with the Nigerian Army, 6 Battalion, Ibagwa in Abak, Corporal Stephen Iweh, to death by hanging for the murder of a 42-year-old man, Christopher Enobong Jimmy.
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: SOLDIER SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MURDER
A General Court Martial of the Nigerian Army sitting at Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos, Plateau State, has sentenced one Private Lukman Musa to death by hanging.
AUGUST 25, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: KWARA ISLAMIC CLERIC TO DIE BY HANGING FOR KILLING FACEBOOK LOVER
A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital, on July 31, 2025 sentenced Abdulrahman Bello to death by hanging for the murder of 24-year-old Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, a final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.
AUGUST 21, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: PRAWA BOSS CALLS FOR ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
Dr Uju Agomoh, Executive Director, Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), has renewed her call for the abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria.
JULY 14, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING DRIVER
A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced four men to death for the murder of a taxi driver, Mr Olarenwaju Ajayi, sometime in 2001.
JUNE 8, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: NIGER PARDONS 11 INMATES ON DEATH ROW
Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has granted unconditional state pardon to 11 convicted persons who were on death row.
MAY 14, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH FOR KILLING FRIEND IN FIGHT OVER CAP
A High Court in Kano has sentenced one Adamu Isma’ila Arzai to death by hanging for killing his friend during a fight over a cap, Daily Post reported on May 13, 2025.
MAY 8, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: BRT DRIVER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BAMISE’S MURDER
Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court on May 2, 2025 sentenced Bus Rapid Transit driver, Andrew Ominikoron, to death by hanging for the murder of 22-year-old Oluwabamise Ayanwola.
- MAY 3, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: ARMY COURT MARTIAL SENTENCES SOLDIER TO DEATH FOR GIRLFRIEND’S MURDER
A General Court Martial sitting at the Headquarters, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, has sentenced Private Adamu Mohammed to death by hanging for murder, while Private Abubakar Yusuf was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for robbery.
APRIL 30, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: GOSPEL SINGER OSINACHI’S HUSBAND SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja.
APRIL 2, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR ARMED ROBBERY IN EKITI
The Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on March 27, 2025 sentenced two men to death by hanging for armed robbery.
MARCH 31, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: REPS RESCIND DECISION ON BILL TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
The Nigerian Federal House of Representatives on March 27, 2025 reversed its decision on the second reading of two controversial bills: one aimed at stripping the Vice President, governors, and deputy governors of their immunity, and another advocating fo