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
OCTOBER 31, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 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 PENALTYNIGERIA: 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 PENALTYNIGERIA: 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
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
LAGOS (NIGERIA): COURT RESTRAINS GOVT FROM EXECUTING FIVE BY HANGING
In Nigeria, a Lagos High Court Judge, Justice Mufutau Olokoba, has nullified
- AUGUST 30, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
the Putrajaya Federal Court, in Malaysia...
the Putrajaya Federal Court, in Malaysia...
- AUGUST 26, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
the High Court sentenced a Nigerian man
the High Court sentenced a Nigerian man
- AUGUST 17, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto
Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto
JULY 21, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
In Nigeria, Chukwutem Eke, a farmer in Delta State, has been sentenced to death
- JULY 13, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a Makurdi High Court sentenced a 38-year-old soldier...
a Makurdi High Court sentenced a 38-year-old soldier...
- JUNE 27, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a court in Gambia has sentenced two Nigerian nationals to death by hanging
a court in Gambia has sentenced two Nigerian nationals to death by hanging
- JUNE 27, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: TWO BROTHERS GET DEATH SENTENCE FOR ROBBERY
In Nigeria, the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Iorhemen Hwande, in Makurdi, sentenced
- JUNE 18, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a High Court sitting in Kano, Nigeria...
a High Court sitting in Kano, Nigeria...
JUNE 8, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES 17-YEAR-OLD TO DEATH
In Nigeria, a 17-year-old, Solomon Ezukwa, was sentenced to death by hanging by a Calabar
- MAY 30, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: 3 MEN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR ROBBERY
May 30, 2012: In Nigeria, a High Court in Abakaliki sentenced three men to death by hanging for robbery.
- MAY 16, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
seven years after, three persons, Dele Akinbolade...
seven years after, three persons, Dele Akinbolade...
MAY 14, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: NIGERIAN STUDENT TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In Malaysia, the High Court sentenced a Nigerian man to the gallows after
- MARCH 28, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: NIGERIAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
The High Court in Alor Setar, Malaysia, sentenced a Nigerian man to death after finding
- MARCH 27, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
at a one-day conference organised by Lawyers Without Borders in Abuja...
at a one-day conference organised by Lawyers Without Borders in Abuja...
- MARCH 23, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: SUPREME COURT RE-AFFIRMS DEATH SENTENCE ON KILLER SECURITY GUARD
In Nigeria, the Supreme Court re-affirmed the death sentence passed on a security guard, Stephen
MARCH 2, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SUPREME COURT FREES MAN-EATER 15 YEARS LATER
In Nigeria, fifteen years after he was sentenced to death by hanging, Edet Obeten Mbang
- FEBRUARY 27, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: NIGERIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In Malaysia, the High Court sentenced to death a Nigerian man after he was found guilty
- FEBRUARY 27, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: I WON’T SIGN DEATH WARRANTS – UDUAGHAN
In Nigeria, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, said he would not sign the
- FEBRUARY 5, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) has confirmed to newspaper...
the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) has confirmed to newspaper...
- JANUARY 31, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
the Federal High Court, Gudu, Abuja, Nigeria...
the Federal High Court, Gudu, Abuja, Nigeria...
- JANUARY 30, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a judge in Nigeria has sentenced a former dictator's right-hand man to death
a judge in Nigeria has sentenced a former dictator's right-hand man to death
JANUARY 26, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: OGUN STATE GOVERNOR COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES OF 2 PRISONERS
Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has granted amnesty to seven prisoners who