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
- 1,117
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 1,117 news items on Nigeria, from 1999 to today.
In Nigeria the death penalty is provided for by the penal code and, in the northern states applying sharia law, also for offences such as apostasy and adultery. The methods provided for are hanging and shooting.
Sentences are numerous and death row is crowded, while actual executions are rare and concentrated in short periods. The archive follows sentences, executions and commutations.
Latest news
MAY 28, 2015NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: GOV UDUAGHAN GRANTS TOTAL PARDON TO BOY SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR STEALING 3 PHONES IN DELTA
Emmanuel Uduaghan , the Governor of the Delta State, granted total pardon to Moses Akatugba who was
- JANUARY 4, 2015NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, in the spirit of New Year granted amnesty to 14
the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, in the spirit of New Year granted amnesty to 14
- JANUARY 1, 2015NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Death sentences are mandatory for murder but also non lethal offences
Death sentences are mandatory for murder but also non lethal offences
DECEMBER 17, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA TO PUT 54 SOLDIERS TO DEATH FOR REFUSAL TO FIGHT BOKO HARAM
A court martial in Nigeria has sentenced 54 soldiers to death for mutiny, assault, cowardice and refusing to
OCTOBER 28, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT ORDERS STAY OF EXECUTION ON CONVICTED SOLDIERS
A Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Nigerian Army to stay execution on the death sentence passed
OCTOBER 24, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: A MAN WHO CHEATED HANGMAN AT GALLOWS FREED AFTER 19 YEARS
OCTOBER 1, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: DELTA STATE GOVERNOR FREES THREE ON DEATH ROW
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State granted pardon to three men awaiting execution to mark
JULY 16, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: NIGERIAN STUDENT SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Nigerian private college student was sentenced to death by the High Court in Malaysia, after he was
JULY 15, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: FATHER SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
A Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, presided over by Justice Ebenezer Adebanjo has sentenced to
JULY 15, 2014SudanDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: OGWUCHE, NYANYAN BLAST MASTERMIND, EXTRADITED FROM SUDAN
Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche the co-mastermind of the Nyanya Motor Park bombing, in which scores of citizens
JUNE 18, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: ECOWAS COURT UPHOLDS RIGHTS OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS ON DEATH ROW
in a landmark verdict, the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS
JUNE 9, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: PASTOR, EVANGELIST, 2 OTHERS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER ROBBERY
Nine years after participating in a bank robbery, a pastor, Adeniyi Matthew, an Evangelist, Akeem
- JUNE 6, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: NYSC MEMBER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ROBBERY IN AKWA IBOM
The supreme court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, re-affirmed the death sentence passed on a National Youth
- MAY 29, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, pardoned 15 inmates in prisons across the state to
the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, pardoned 15 inmates in prisons across the state to
- MAY 29, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: POLICEMAN TO HANG OVER MURDER
Justice Abdulkareem Abdulrazak of an Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa has sentenced a police
MAY 6, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: NIGERIAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Nigerian national has been sentenced to death by a Malaysian court for trafficking
APRIL 23, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SHARIA COURT SENTENCES MAN TO BE STONED FOR RAPING AND INFECTING A MINOR
an Islamic court in Kano State sentenced a man to be stoned to death for raping a 12-year-old student,
- APRIL 15, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER, MUTILATION
A 25-year-old woman, Hauwa Ayuba, has been sentenced to death by hanging in Borno State, Nigeria, for
APRIL 11, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: KOGI INDIGENE GETS STATE PARDON AFTER 18 YEARS IN DEATH ROW
Kogi governor, Captain Idris Wada, has granted amnesty to Mr Lasisi Yusuf, a 67-year-old convict who
- MARCH 26, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria - Emeka Nweke, 31, sentenced to death for armed robbery
Nigeria - Emeka Nweke, 31, sentenced to death for armed robbery
- MARCH 26, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria - Ndubuisi Obiora, 26, sentenced to death for robbery
Nigeria - Ndubuisi Obiora, 26, sentenced to death for robbery
- MARCH 20, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES THREE MEN TO DEATH FOR KIDNAPPING, KILLING INFANT
An Akure High Court sentenced three men to death by hanging over the alleged kidnapping and murder of
MARCH 13, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES 3 TO DEATH IN EKITI FOR ROBBERY, MURDER, RAPE
An Ado-Ekiti High Court in Ado-Ekiti sentenced three accused persons to death by hanging for robbery,
MARCH 6, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 4 MEN PUBLICLY WHIPPED FOR GAY SEX
Four men were publicly whipped in northern Nigeria after being convicted of having gay sex by an Islamic
FEBRUARY 24, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SERGEANT GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER
A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, sentenced a police sergeant, Clement Indyel, to death for
FEBRUARY 21, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: AKOLADE AROWOLO SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
Three years after he was accused of killing Titilayo, his banker wife, Akolade Arowolo was sentenced to
- FEBRUARY 12, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: 2 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DEFILING TEENAGE GIRL TO DEATH
In Nigeria, an Osogbo (Osun State) High Court sentenced two young men to death by hanging for raping a
- FEBRUARY 5, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria - Mayowa Omolaye, 30, sentenced to death for murder
Nigeria - Mayowa Omolaye, 30, sentenced to death for murder
- FEBRUARY 5, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
WEST AFRICA: ECOWAS COURT HALTS EXECUTION OF EDO DEATH ROW INMATE
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice has ordered
- JANUARY 22, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: POLICEMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING A BOY
The State High Court, Nembe Division, Bayelsa State, has sentenced a former police officer, Mr. Matthew