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 17, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: VULCANIZER SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR ROBBING NURSE
A 32-year-old vulcanizer, Chidozie Onyinchiz, on 17 January 2023 was sentenced to death by hanging by an Ikeja Special Offences Court, presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada.
JANUARY 11, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 2 SIBLINGS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING RADIO STATION STAFF
Two siblings have been sentenced to death by hanging in Nigeria after a court found them guilty of the killing of a radio station staff, Pulse reported on 22 December 2022.
JANUARY 10, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE AKEREDOLU COMMUTES 7 DEATH SENTENCES TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state on 31 December 2022 invoked his Constitutional power of Prerogative of Mercy to free seven inmates of the Correctional Center serving various terms of imprisonment, just as he commuted seven death sentences to
JANUARY 4, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: ZAMFARA STATE GOVERNOR MATAWALLE PARDONS 9 PRISONERS AWAITING DEATH SENTENCE
Zamfara State Governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle has pardoned 46 prisoners, nine of whom had been sentenced to death by hanging, and five others that were serving life imprisonment in a Medium Correctional Centre, Gusau
- DECEMBER 18, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: KANO CLERIC SHEIKH KABARA SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BLASPHEMY
An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara, was on 15 December 2022 sentenced to death by hanging by an Upper Shari’a Court sitting at Kofar Kudu in Kano State for alleged blasphemy.
DECEMBER 13, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER RAPE, MURDER OF UNILORIN STUDENT
Justice Ibrahim Yusuf of Kwara State High Court on 13 December 2022 sentenced three persons to death by hanging over the rape and murder of a 300-level undergraduate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Omowumi Olajide.
DECEMBER 5, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: CULTIST SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING IN EKITI
An Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti, has sentenced one Segun Iwaetan, to death by hanging for being a cultist and raping a 20-year-old virgin, Daily Post reported on 5 December 2022.
OCTOBER 18, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING THEIR FRIEND AND STEALING HIS CAR IN OGUN
A High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun state, on October 14, 2022 sentenced two men, John Inyere and Chibuike Ukwa, to death by hanging for armed robbery and murder of their friend Chidi Nwite.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: ZAMFARA GOVERNOR MATAWALLE, ‘BANDITS DESERVE DEATH PENALTY’
Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, has justified the death penalty approved for anyone convicted of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, or cultism in the state.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPING AND KILLING A JOB-SEEKER
Akwa Ibom State High Court, sitting in Uyo, on 4 August 2022 sentenced to death Uduak-Abasi Akpan for the murder of jobseeker Iniubong Umoren.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: PASTOR, 1 OTHER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING BOY, BURYING HEAD ON ALTAR
An Ikeja Special Offences Court on 9 August 2022 sentenced one Pastor Erinmole Adetokunbo and one Adedoyin Oyekanmi to death for killing a seven-year-old boy for ritual.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: POPULAR TRADITIONAL WRESTLER TO DIE BY HANGING AFTER POUNDING WIFE TO DEATH
A high court sitting in Adamawa state on 16 August 2022 convicted and sentenced popular traditional wrestler, Thankyou Grim, to death by hanging for using pestle to kill his wife in 2018 in Adamawa State.