Nigeria
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · The death penalty is provided for by the Criminal Code...
- News items in the archive
- 1,104
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Nigeria is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 1,104 news items on Nigeria, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
JULY 30, 2026NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: BRIDE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING HUSBAND NINE DAYS AFTER WEDDING IN KANO
- JULY 9, 2026NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: LAGOS MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER OVER WOMAN DISPUTE
MARCH 30, 2026NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: KANO COURT SENTENCES TWO MEN TO DEATH FOR MURDER DURING ROBBERY
A High Court in Kano on March 3, 2026 sentenced two men to death by hanging for killing a newly married man during a robbery.
- MARCH 11, 2026NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: OSUN COURT HANDS DEATH SENTENCE TO THREE FOR MURDER
An Osun State High Court sitting in Iwo on February 5, 2026 sentenced three men to death over the killing of a 52-year-old woman in the Ile-Ogbo area of the state.
MARCH 10, 2026NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KIDNAPPING, ARMED ROBBERY IN KWARA
Justice Ahmed Aliyu Gegele of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on March 5, 2026 sentenced two men to death by hanging for kidnapping and armed robbery, among other offences.
MARCH 6, 2026NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: BAUCHI COURT CONVICTS KIDNAPPERS, OTHERS TO DEATH, LIFE IMPRISONMENT
The Bauchi State High Courts have disposed of 51 criminal cases, resulting in the conviction of 64 offenders for various offences, including armed robbery, rape, kidnapping, conspiracy, culpable homicide and fraud.
MARCH 4, 2026NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: PASTOR TO DIE BY HANGING FOR KILLING A’IBOM LANDLORD
The Resident Pastor of Living Faith Church Chapel, Ifa Ikot Ubo –Ifa Ikot Okpon Branch, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Umoh, has been sentenced to death by hanging, Punch reported on February 21, 2026.
- JANUARY 21, 2026NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT HANDS DEATH PENALTY TO 33-YEAR-OLD FOR ROBBERY, SEXUAL ASSAULT IN CROSS RIVER
A High Court of Cross River State sitting in Calabar has sentenced a 33-year-old man, Okon Effiong, to death for armed robbery, rape and aggravated assault, The Guardian reported on January 21, 2026.
DECEMBER 23, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: S’COURT UPHOLDS MARYAM SANDA’S DEATH SENTENCE, OVERRULES TINUBU’S CLEMENCY
The Supreme Court on December 12, 2025 upheld the death sentence imposed on Maryam Sanda, daughter-in-law of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, over the killing of her husband, Bilyamin Bello.
DECEMBER 23, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: ADAMAWA GOVERNOR PARDONS FARMER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING HERDER
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri on December 23, 2025 granted a full pardon to Sunday Jackson, a farmer who was sentenced to death in 2019 for killing a herder during a confrontation on his farmland.
- OCTOBER 22, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: 3 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING FRIEND OVER LOAN
A Kano State High Court, sitting at Court No. 15, has sentenced three men to death by hanging after finding them guilty of murdering a carpenter, Abba Aminu Yalwa, Daily Trust reported on October 20, 2025.
OCTOBER 13, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TINUBU GRANTS PRESIDENTIAL PARDON TO HERBERT MACAULAY, 174 OTHERS
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted presidential pardon and clemency to 175 persons.
- 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
MARCH 24, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN WHO KILLED ATTACKER IN ‘SELF-DEFENCE’
The Supreme Court of Nigeria on March 7, 2025 upheld the death sentence of Sunday Jackson, a farmer in his 30s, for killing a Fulani herdsman, Ardo Bawuro, in an altercation on his farmland.
MARCH 13, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: DEATH ROW INMATES NOW 3,688, AG NCOS CG TELLS SENATE
The Acting Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Mr. Sylvester Nwakuche, on March 12, 2025 said 3,688 prisoners are currently on death row in various correctional centres across the country.
MARCH 6, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH, SURGICAL CASTRATION OVER RAPE
Two persons have been sentenced to death by hanging, while another was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape in Kaduna.
- MARCH 4, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING WIFE, BROTHER-IN-LAW IN LAGOS
A Lagos State High Court, presided over by Justice Sherifat Sonaike, at Tafawa Balewa Square, on February 27, 2025 sentenced Benjamin Ogundero to death by hanging for the murder of his wife, Chinyere Ogundero, and her brother, Ifeanyi Joseph, in April 202
- FEBRUARY 24, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SLAMS DEATH SENTENCE ON MEN WHO RAIDED KANO FARM, KILLED OWNER
A Kano State High Court sentenced three middle-aged men to death by hanging after they were found guilty of criminal conspiracy, theft and homicide, Daily Trust reported on February 23, 2025.
FEBRUARY 20, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: EDO LAWMAKERS APPROVES DEATH SENTENCE FOR KIDNAPPERS
The Edo State House of Assembly on February 18, 2025 approved death sentence for kidnappers in the state.