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
- JULY 11, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: AUTHORITIES SHOULD COMMUTE ACTRESS RABI ISMAIL'S DEATH SENTENCE
the Nigerian authorities must commute all death sentences and impose an official moratorium on executions, Amnesty International said, following the confirmation of a death sentence by the country's Supreme Court of actress Rabi Ismail for murder.
- JULY 8, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: 29-YEAR-OLD TO BE HANGED FOR MURDER
Justice Morenike Obadina of a Lagos High Court in Nigeria sentenced Thomas Dafe, 29, to death by hanging for murdering his girlfriend, Stella Bob- Manuel, with a knife for abruptly ending their long-term relationship.
JULY 8, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE
Justice Francis Fedode Tabai of the Nigerian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence passed
- JULY 4, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
a Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere
- JUNE 28, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: EDO PROPOSES DEATH PENALTY FOR KIDNAPPERS
kidnappers may face the death penalty in Edo State
- JUNE 19, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: SUPREME COURT OKAYS DEATH FOR TWO
in two separate judgements, the Nigerian Supreme Court upheld the death sentences of Segun Ogunsanya and Joseph Awoshina.
- JUNE 3, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan signed the Terrorism...
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan signed the Terrorism...
- JUNE 3, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan signed the Terrorism (Prevention) Bill...
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan signed the Terrorism (Prevention) Bill...
- MAY 29, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MIMIKO COMMUTES 3 DEATH SENTENCES, PARDONS 14 PRISONERS
in Nigeria, Ondo State Governor Dr Olusegun Mimiko commuted the death sentences passed on three people to life imprisonment to mark the 2011 Democracy Day.
- MAY 25, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: A FARMER TO DIE BY HANGING FOR MURDER IN BORNO
at a Maiduguri high court in Nigeria, Justice Patum Ngadda sentenced farmer Abdullahi Buba, 25...
- MAY 23, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: POLICE SERGEANT SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
in Nigeria, Benin High Court Justice Roland Amaize sentenced police sergeant Kalejaiye Ola to death by hanging for murdering Paul Erimafa on June 23, 2003.
- MAY 13, 2011Equatorial GuineaDEATH PENALTY
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER RIGHTS SITUATION IN AFRICA
Amnesty International addressed the African commission on human and people’s rights on the state of the situation of human rights in Africa.
- MAY 12, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: DEATH SENTENCE - HAUSA ACTRESS KNOWS FATE JULY 8
the Nigerian Supreme Court fixed July 8, 2011, to rule on the appeal of popular Hausa film actress, Ms Rabi Ismail, who is challenging the judgment of the Court of Appeal Kano Division that sentenced her to death by hanging.
APRIL 21, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: NIGERIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
a court in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, sentenced Nigerian man Nnaji David Ete, 33, to
APRIL 15, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: FARMER CONDEMNED TO DEATH FOR KILLING BROTHER
a Katsina State High Court, sitting in Malumfashi, Nigeria, sentenced farmer Nura Malam
- MARCH 29, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: THREE TO DIE BY HANGING FOR ARMED ROBBERY
Kingsely Akhabue, Fabian Matthew and Ismaila Fatoki, were sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos High Court in Nigeria for armed robbery, carried out between March 22 and 23, 2008, at Igando area of Lagos State.
- MARCH 27, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: 3 DEATH ROW INMATES APPEAL TO ORJI FOR CLEMENCY
in Nigeria, three inmates of Enugu Prisons, Raphael Udeh...
- MARCH 23, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: COURT GIVES NIGERIAN DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
A court in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has sentenced a Nigerian man to death for drug smuggling
MARCH 23, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: NIGERIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUGS
Nigerian national Michael Ikenna Nduanya, 34, was sentenced to death in Ho Chi Minh
- MARCH 6, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: DEATH SENTENCE ON POLICEMAN
in Nigeria, police cpl. Obanla Julius was sentenced to death by Abuja High Court Justice Abubakar Talba for killing Shagari Haruna on May 2, 2002, at the Federal Housing Authority junction in Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
- MARCH 4, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR KILLING LOVER
Justice Pindar Haruna Nggada of the Maiduguri High Court in Nigeria sentenced firewood seller Idris Lima, 42, to death by hanging for strangling his lover, Hauwa Ibrahim, in a farm at Maiva village in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.
- FEBRUARY 23, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR SLAUGHTERING FRIEND
Chief Justice Ibrahim Umar of the High Court in Birnin kebbi, in Kebbi State, Nigeria, sentenced Yusuf Hussaini to death by hanging.
- FEBRUARY 14, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COP TO DIE BY HANGING
Justice Abubakar Talba of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja...
- JANUARY 25, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: REPS SET TO ADOPT DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORISM
the Nigerian House of Representatives is set to pass into law the anti-terrorism bill that recommends death penalty for terrorism.
- JANUARY 10, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: 137 CONVICTS AWAITING DEATH AT KIRIKIRI
137 inmates in Kirikiri Maximum prison in Lagos, Nigeria, have been condemned to death, the Daily Sun reported after visiting the prison.
- JANUARY 1, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The Nigerian Constitution states at Part II, Chapter IV on Fundamental Rights
The Nigerian Constitution states at Part II, Chapter IV on Fundamental Rights
- NOVEMBER 25, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT PASSES DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER OF THREE YEAR OLD
presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Isa of the High Court sitting in the Ringim Local Government
- NOVEMBER 22, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT ORDERS MAN HANGED
at a High Court in Aba in Nigeria's Abia State, Presiding Judge, Justice Theresa Uzokwe sentenced Loveday Ahuchaogu, 30, from Umuawa, to death by hanging for kidnapping and murdering Francis Ajayi on July 28, 2008, at Umudike in Ikwuano, near Umuahia.
- NOVEMBER 19, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: TWO TO HANG OVER MURDER OF POLITICIAN IN IMO
Justice Goddy Anunihu of the Owerri High Court in Nigeria sentenced Bakassi...
- OCTOBER 31, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES POLICE CORPORAL TO DEATH
Justice Ishaq Bello of the Abuja high court sitting in Maitama...