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
DECEMBER 6, 2013NigeriaDEATH 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 PENALTYNIGERIA: 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, 2013NigeriaDEATH 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 PENALTYNIGERIA: 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, 2013MalaysiaDEATH 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, 2013MalaysiaDEATH 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 PENALTYNIGERIA: 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 PENALTY
EU ADVOCATES FOR THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN NIGERIA
the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and
- JUNE 24, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: FOUR CONVICTS HANGED IN EDO FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2006
Nigeria hanged four prisoners at Benin City Prison in Edo State, in the country's first executions since 2006.
- JUNE 20, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES 2 TO DEATH BY HANGING IN SOKOTO
The Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto, Nigeria, upheld the death sentence earlier delivered by the
- JUNE 17, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: PRESIDENT TELLS GOVERNORS TO SIGN DEATH WARRANTS
President Goodluck Jonathan called on State Governors not to shy away from signing death sentences
- JUNE 14, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: NIGERIAN MAN TO HANG FOR DRUG-TRAFFICKING
A Nigerian man was sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court in Malaysia after being
- JUNE 5, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES BANKER TO DEATH FOR KILLING WIFE
In Nigeria, an Abia State High Court has sentenced a banker, Mr. Theophilus Ajakaiye, to death by
- MAY 24, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
the Supreme Court in Nigeria has affirmed the death sentence
the Supreme Court in Nigeria has affirmed the death sentence
- MAY 24, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a middle aged man, Tersoo Terna, was sentenced to death by hanging
a middle aged man, Tersoo Terna, was sentenced to death by hanging