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
JANUARY 22, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 23-YEAR-OLD SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING RIVAL
In Nigeria, a Jos High Court sentenced a 23-year-old man, Harisu Abdullahi, to death by hanging for
JANUARY 16, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYMAN LASHED 20 TIMES FOR SODOMY IN NIGERIAN COURT
A young man convicted of sodomy was whipped 20 times in a northern Nigerian Shariah court.
JANUARY 14, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 38 GAYS FACE DEATH PENALTY IN BAUCHI STATE
Human rights activists said Police arrested 38 gay men and were looking for 168 others in
JANUARY 7, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: JUDGE SENTENCES BOY TO DEATH BY HANGING IN KANO
In Nigeria, Kano High Court 4 at Audu Bako secretariat presided over by Justice Nura Sagir has sentenced
- JANUARY 1, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Death sentences are mandatory for murder but also non lethal offences
Death sentences are mandatory for murder but also non lethal offences
- DECEMBER 27, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria - A Katsina State High Court sitting in Malumfashi sentenced Aminu Ibrahim to death
Nigeria - A Katsina State High Court sitting in Malumfashi sentenced Aminu Ibrahim to death
- DECEMBER 12, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria - Three Men Sentenced To Death For Robbery by an Ogwashi-Uku High Court
Nigeria - Three Men Sentenced To Death For Robbery by an Ogwashi-Uku High Court
DECEMBER 6, 2013SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SWITZERLAND URGES FG TO REVIEW DEATH PENALTY
The Government of Switzerland has urged the Nigerian Federal Government to address the
- NOVEMBER 22, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a 30-year-old man was sentenced by an Upper Sharia court in Bauchi...
a 30-year-old man was sentenced by an Upper Sharia court in Bauchi...
- NOVEMBER 20, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR STEALING RECHARGE CARDS
A High Court in Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria, has sentenced a 24-year-old secondary school
- NOVEMBER 19, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES ARMED ROBBER TO DEATH BY HANGING
In Nigeria, a Zamfara High Court in Gusau sentenced Babangida Bello, 28, to death
- OCTOBER 25, 2013VietnamDEATH PENALTY
a Nigerian has been sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Vietnam
a Nigerian has been sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Vietnam
- OCTOBER 17, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE SIGNS LAW PRESCRIBING DEATH PENALTY FOR KIDNAPPERS IN EDO
In Nigeria, Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole signed into law the “Kidnapping Prohibition
- OCTOBER 11, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a High Court sitting in Argungu, Kebbi State, Nigeria, has sentenced a woman to death
a High Court sitting in Argungu, Kebbi State, Nigeria, has sentenced a woman to death
OCTOBER 10, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: KIDNAPPERS OF DELTA MAGISTRATE TO DIE BY HANGING
In Nigeria, two persons were sentenced to death by hanging by an Asaba High Court, having been
OCTOBER 4, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: THREE NIGERIAN STUDENTS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three Nigerian college students were sentenced to death by a High Court in Malaysia for trafficking
OCTOBER 1, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: EKITI STATE GOVERNOR FAYEMI PARDONS 8 PRISONERS, 2 BROTHERS ON DEATH ROW
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Nigeria, granted pardon to 10 prisoners, including
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MILITARY DENIES PASSING DEATH SENTENCE ON SOLDIERS
The Nigerian Army, 3 Armored Division, Maxwell Kobe Cantonment, Rukuba, Jos, has
SEPTEMBER 15, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 18 SOLDIERS GET DEATH, JAIL TERMS OVER BOKO HARAM
For their alleged links to Boko Haram, some soldiers are to face death penalty while others will
- AUGUST 23, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a court in Ado Ekiti, Nigeria, has sentenced Taiwo Hassan
a court in Ado Ekiti, Nigeria, has sentenced Taiwo Hassan
- AUGUST 19, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a Ho Chi Minh City court sentenced a Nigerian man to death
a Ho Chi Minh City court sentenced a Nigerian man to death
JULY 25, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: NIGERIAN STUDENT SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR CANNABIS TRAFFICKING
The High Court in Shah Alam, Malaysia, sentenced a Nigerian college student to death after he
JULY 24, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: DELTA HIGH COURT SENTENCES 3 ARMED ROBBERS TO DEATH
In Nigeria, the High Court of Justice sitting in Otu-Jeremi judicial division, Delta State, has
- JULY 12, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
the Nigerian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence
the Nigerian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence
JULY 10, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: LAGOS URGES REVIEW OF DEATH PENALTY
The Lagos State government joined calls for a rethink of death penalty in Nigeria’s constitution
- JULY 3, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: AFRICAN COMMISSION ASKS PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO RESCIND DIRECTIVE ON EXECUTION OF PRISONERS
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, has requested President Goodluck
- JUNE 29, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: SUPREME COURT JUSTICE OPPOSES CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court of Nigeria said that capital punishment should
JUNE 29, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: FG REJECTS WEST'S POSITION ON DEATH PENALTY
Nigeria has said it will not alter its position on the death penalty, which is allowed in
JUNE 26, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN TO HANG FOR KILLING STEPDAUGHTER IN ZAMFARA
A High Court presided over by Justice Bello Tukur Gummi in Gusau, Zamfara State (Nigeria), has
JUNE 25, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYEU ADVOCATES FOR THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN NIGERIA
the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and