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
- FEBRUARY 26, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
A Sharia court in Dutse, Yobe State sentenced Bello...
A Sharia court in Dutse, Yobe State sentenced Bello Abdulkadir to 80 strokes of the cane for drunkenness
- FEBRUARY 22, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Italy's professional football association organised...
Italy's professional football association organised a protest over plans in Nigeria to stone a woman to death
- FEBRUARY 20, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Recently, the European Parliament passed a resolution...
Recently, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning all forms of religious intolerance 'in particular the northern Nigerian Islamic courts' selective justice that sentenced Safiya Hussaini to death by stoning"
- FEBRUARY 20, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
A court in Nigeria's Kebbi State convicted two people...
A court in Nigeria's Kebbi State convicted two people to death by hanging for their involvement in separate robbery cases
- FEBRUARY 19, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo hinted that a...
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo hinted that a woman sentenced to death for having sex outside of marriage would win a reprieve, saying the outcome of her appeal would "gladden hearts"
- FEBRUARY 12, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Government expressed reservations about...
The Federal Government expressed reservations about the European Union's concern over the death penalty for some offences in Nigeria
- FEBRUARY 8, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The Imam of Muslim inmates at the Federal Prisons in...
The Imam of Muslim inmates at the Federal Prisons in Awka, Anambra State, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullahi Anadu, awarded a scholarship to Adama, the daughter of the alleged Sokoto adulteress, Safiya Hussaini Tungar Tudu
- FEBRUARY 6, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Italian Equal Opportunities Minister Stefania Prestigiacomo...
Italian Equal Opportunities Minister Stefania Prestigiacomo said the time had come for the European Union to stop women being stoned to death in some Arab countries
- JANUARY 28, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The Supreme Council of Islam in Nigeria warned the...
The Supreme Council of Islam in Nigeria warned the National Assembly not to pass into law a bill currently before the House of Representatives seeking to adopt as part of Nigeria's laws, certain aspects of the United Nations (UN) convention which the coun
- JANUARY 23, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
A Sokoto [northern Nigeria] Upper Shari'ah Court ordered...
A Sokoto [northern Nigeria] Upper Shari'ah Court ordered the amputation of the right hand of a middle-aged man, Bello Garba for stealing a donkey valued at 2,500 naira [21dollars]
- JANUARY 23, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
A sharia court in Nigeria acquitted an 18-year-old...
A sharia court in Nigeria acquitted an 18-year-old mother of adultery in a ruling that could save other Muslims from being stoned to death on similar charges, her lawyer said
- JANUARY 21, 2002NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
An 18-year-old Muslim who could face death if convicted...
An 18-year-old Muslim who could face death if convicted of adultery in northern Nigeria was released on bail after spending five weeks in jail with her new-born daughter, her lawyer said