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 9, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Miss Belgium burst into tears after a public clash...
Miss Belgium burst into tears after a public clash with two rival beauty queens over plans to boycott the Miss World pageant in Nigeria to protest human rights abuses
- OCTOBER 8, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Two lovers, Fatima Usman and Ahmed Ibrahim, convicted...
Two lovers, Fatima Usman and Ahmed Ibrahim, convicted to death for adultery in a Niger State Sharia court are to remain in jail following the adjournment of their bail hearing to October 22
- OCTOBER 4, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The 2002 Miss World pageant in the Nigerian capital...
The 2002 Miss World pageant in the Nigerian capital Abuja was postponed to December 7 to avoid a clash with Ramadam, the Muslim period of fasting
- OCTOBER 4, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The Costa Rican government urged its representative...
The Costa Rican government urged its representative stay away from the Miss World competition in Nigeria to protest a ruling by an Islamic court in the African nation sentencing Amina Lawal to death by stoning
- OCTOBER 4, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The 2002 Miss World pageant in the Nigerian capital...
The 2002 Miss World pageant in the Nigerian capital Abuja was postponed to December 7 to avoid a clash with Ramadam, the Muslim period of fasting
- OCTOBER 3, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Spain decided to withdraw participation in the Miss...
Spain decided to withdraw participation in the Miss World pageant due to be held in Nigeria to show solidarity with Amina Lawal, a woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery
- OCTOBER 3, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Miss Denmark joined a boycott of the Miss World pageant...
Miss Denmark joined a boycott of the Miss World pageant to protest against a death sentence imposed on a Nigerian Muslim woman accused of having sex outside marriage
- OCTOBER 2, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria's Minister for Women's Affairs said her government...
Nigeria's Minister for Women's Affairs said her government was not involved in the Miss World pageant that Spain and other countries decided to boycott because a Islamic court in her country has sentenced a woman to be stoned to death
- OCTOBER 2, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria's Minister of Women's Affairs, Hajiha Aisha,...
Nigeria's Minister of Women's Affairs, Hajiha Aisha, said that the Miss World pageant scheduled to be held in Nigeria in December was a private event run by a private company and does not concern the government
- OCTOBER 2, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Lebanese former Finance Minister Georges Corm, said...
Lebanese former Finance Minister Georges Corm, said that the death sentence by stoning passed on Amina Lawal by a Nigerian Sharia Court did not serve the cause of Islam
- OCTOBER 1, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
New Zealand lawmakers of all parties wrote to Nigeria's...
New Zealand lawmakers of all parties wrote to Nigeria's president urging him to overturn the sentence of death by stoning imposed on a woman for having a child out of wedlock
- OCTOBER 1, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo gave assurances...
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo gave assurances that the country's higher appeal courts would quash the death-by-stoning sentences for adultery passed by Islamic courts