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
- MAY 16, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
three persons, Michael Taiye, Moses Chukwuemeka and Efetaire
three persons, Michael Taiye, Moses Chukwuemeka and Efetaire
- MAY 14, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCE 8 TO DEATH BY HANGING
In Nigeria, an Owerri High Court sentenced eight persons to death by hanging.
- APRIL 30, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
in Nigeria, a High court of Justice sitting at Isiokolo...
in Nigeria, a High court of Justice sitting at Isiokolo...
- APRIL 30, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a High court of Justice sitting at Isiokolo
a High court of Justice sitting at Isiokolo
APRIL 17, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN, 22, TO DIE BY HANGING FOR STEALING N955,600
In Nigeria, a 22-year-old man, Julius Aboy was sentenced to death for stealing N955,600 by a Delta
APRIL 17, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: DELTA STATE ASSEMBLY APPROVES DEATH SENTENCE FOR KIDNAPPERS
The Delta State House of Assembly voted against Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the
APRIL 12, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS DEATH SENTENCE ON ELECTION DAY KILLER
Nigeria’s Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and the death sentence imposed on
- MARCH 25, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
two policemen, Ameh Richard and Akinyede Olaiya, are to die by hanging.
two policemen, Ameh Richard and Akinyede Olaiya, are to die by hanging.
- MARCH 13, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Adam Abdullah Younes, a Nigerian, was beheaded in Riyadh, after being convicted of trafficking drugs into
Adam Abdullah Younes, a Nigerian, was beheaded in Riyadh, after being convicted of trafficking drugs into
FEBRUARY 20, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SENATE OKAYS DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORISTS
In Nigeria, the Senate descended heavily on terrorism perpetrators as it recommended a capital
- FEBRUARY 13, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: BAYELSA STATE APPROVES DEATH PENALTY FOR KIDNAPPERS
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s home state of Bayelsa signed a law approving the death
- FEBRUARY 2, 2013IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIANS ON DEATH ROW IN INDONESIA: JONATHAN CALLS FOR STAY OF EXECUTION
President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan requested for stay of execution on Nigerians on
FEBRUARY 1, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: APPEAL COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE ON REVEREND KING
A Court of Appeal in Lagos affirmed the death sentence slammed on the General-Overseer
- JANUARY 31, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES VARSITY WORKER TO DEATH
In Nigeria, a Delta State High Court sitting in Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area, has sentenced
JANUARY 22, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: NIGERIAN STUDENT SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In Malaysia, a Nigerian man was sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court today after
JANUARY 14, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH FOR MURDER, RAPE
In Nigeria, an Ado-Ekiti High Court sentenced one Emmanuel Tometin to death by hanging for
- JANUARY 1, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Death sentences are mandatory for murder but also non lethal offences
Death sentences are mandatory for murder but also non lethal offences
JANUARY 1, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: AMOSUN FREES 20 PRISONERS, COMMUTES 3 DEATH SENTENCES TO LIFE JAIL
In accordance with a clause in the 1999 Nigeria Constitution, which confers state governors with a
- DECEMBER 13, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: NASS APPROVES DEATH SENTENCE FOR TERRORISTS
In Nigeria, the National Assembly approved the death penalty for acts of terrorism
DECEMBER 9, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: NIGERIAN MAN GETS THE GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Nigerian car spare parts salesman was sentenced to death by the High Court in Malaysia for
DECEMBER 7, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 34-YEAR-OLD FARMER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ROBBERY
In Nigeria, a farmer at Kwale town, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State
DECEMBER 4, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: ABOUT 970 INMATES IN PRISONS ARE ON DEATH ROW
At least 970 inmates in Nigerian prisons are on death row, awaiting their execution. This
- NOVEMBER 7, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: DELTA LAWMAKERS PASS BILL ON KIDNAPPING, TERRORISM
In Nigeria, Delta State House of Assembly passed a bill stipulating death sentence
- OCTOBER 31, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: ELECTRICIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING WOMAN
In Nigeria, a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja sentenced a 31-year-old electrician, Abdulkadri
OCTOBER 29, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: AFRICAN COMMISION WANTS FG TO STOP HANGING OF EDO DEATH ROW INMATES
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, ACHPR, has called on the Federal Government
- OCTOBER 22, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a 27 year-old man, Oloche Omale was sentenced to death
a 27 year-old man, Oloche Omale was sentenced to death
OCTOBER 18, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: EDO STATE GOVERNOR GRANTS PARDON TO TWO PRISONERS, COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE OF TWO OTHERS, BUT SIGNS DEATH WARRANTS FOR TWO DEATH ROW INMATES
In Nigeria, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole granted amnesty to two
- OCTOBER 11, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES STUDENT TO DEATH BY HANGING
In Nigeria, the Delta State High Court sitting in Warri sentenced to death by hanging a National
- OCTOBER 9, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: SOLDIER TO HANG FOR MURDER, ANOTHER JAILED FOR LIFE
In Nigeria, the Owerri High Court sentenced a soldier, Bassey Asinya, to death
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: POLICE CORPORAL SENTENCED TO DEATH
An Ikeja High Court presided over by Justice Olabisi Akinlade has sentenced a 35-year