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
JUNE 24, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 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 PENALTYNIGERIA: 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 PENALTYMALAYSIA: 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
- 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 PENALTY
NIGERIA: 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, 2013NigeriaDEATH 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, 2013NigeriaDEATH 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, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: 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