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
- AUGUST 19, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Britain expressed concern to the Nigerian government...
Britain expressed concern to the Nigerian government over the Appeal Court ruling upholding the death sentence by stoning passed on Amina Lawal Kurami, a woman convicted of adultery under the country's Sharia law
- AUGUST 19, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Amina Lawal Kurami, a single mother of 30, had her...
Amina Lawal Kurami, a single mother of 30, had her appeal rejected by an Islamic high court in northern Nigeria and thus came one step closer to being stoned to death for having sex out of wedlock
- AUGUST 12, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria warned Miss World contestants to steer clear...
Nigeria warned Miss World contestants to steer clear of parts of the country practising sharia law during the pageant's finals in the capital, Abuja, in November
- AUGUST 6, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigerians Johnson Oshodi, Tunde Apatira, Oladotun Lukmanu...
Nigerians Johnson Oshodi, Tunde Apatira, Oladotun Lukmanu Umaru and a Chinese national from Hong Kong, Chu Tak Fai, appealed to the Malaysia Federal Court for a revision of their death sentences following a decision by the Court of Appeal acquitting mecha
- JULY 24, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Many prisoners are languishing on death row in Nigeria's...
Many prisoners are languishing on death row in Nigeria's various prisons due to the failure of some state governors to endorse their execution warrants
- JULY 16, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Rapists may face the death penalty in Nigeria under...
Rapists may face the death penalty in Nigeria under a new law to enhance children's rights, according to Women Affairs and Youth Development Minister Aisha Isma'il
- JULY 15, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The death sentence passed on Uchenna Uwachukwu for...
The death sentence passed on Uchenna Uwachukwu for killing his business partner, Benjamin Iheama, by the high court and court of appeal was confirmed by the Supreme Court
- JULY 8, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
A 20-year-old man, Aliyu Ibrahim, from Adamawa State,...
A 20-year-old man, Aliyu Ibrahim, from Adamawa State, who claimed to have blasphemed against the Prophet Muhammad has taken himself to the Upper Sharia Court Two, Sokoto, asking for the death penalty, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported
- JULY 8, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
An Islamic court in northern Nigeria began hearing...
An Islamic court in northern Nigeria began hearing an appeal from a woman convicted of adultery and sentenced to death by stoning under controversial Sharia, or Islamic, law
- JULY 5, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The Spanish section of Amnesty International delivered...
The Spanish section of Amnesty International delivered an additional 310,000 signatures to the Nigerian Embassy in Madrid requesting the acquittal of Amina Nawal, a woman sentenced to death by stoning in the African nation
- JULY 4, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO) called on Nigeria's...
The Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO) called on Nigeria's Federal Government to abolish the death penalty and fashion a legislation that would protect and safeguard lives in accordance with acceptable international norms
- JULY 1, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
A 25-year-old married man, Gawata Lababa Turun, accused...
A 25-year-old married man, Gawata Lababa Turun, accused of impregnating his sister-in-law Nasifatu Umaru, 16, escaped being sentenced to death by stoning because of the failure by the prosecution to produce four witnesses against him