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
- 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...
- OCTOBER 22, 2010MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: NIGERIAN DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO DEATH
Nigerian footballer Danny Phiri, 25, was sentenced to death by Justice Datuk Abdul Alim Abdullah of the Malaysian High Court, for trafficking in 530.14 grammes of heroin in Puchong on May 15, 2009.
- OCTOBER 4, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: 2 SENTENCED TO DEATH IN OWERRI
Justice Goody Anunihu of the Owerri high court in Nigeria sentenced Jude Nwokoye and Amachi Anunobi, from Imo State, to death by hanging.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: PRISONERS AWAIT EXECUTION IN JOS
over 123 prison inmates including 39 indigenes of Benue State who are sentenced to death
- AUGUST 18, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: EX-POLICE OFFICER TO DIE FOR KILLING VARSITY STUDENT
Justice Obande Ogbuinya of the Abakaliki High Court in Nigeria sentenced Police Assistant Superintendent Bernard Alifi to death by hanging for the unprovoked murder of 23 year old student Micha at a polling booth for local government elections in Anambra
- JULY 26, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH FOR KILLING FATHER
Justice Yakubu Dakwak of the Jos High Court in Nigeria sentenced Ibrahim Jafiya, 23, to death by hanging for fatally shooting his father Aliyu Ishaku Jafiya on November 14, 2003 over a disagreement
JULY 26, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: THREE GET DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER
in Edo State, Nigeria, Justice Cromwell Idahosa sentenced Chief Priest Felix Osadolor, alias Afro
- JULY 21, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: RISK OF DEATH SENTENCE AFTER REPATRIATION FROM ITALY
a Nigerian girl risks being sentenced to death in her country after being repatriated
- JULY 12, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN TO DIE FOR STEALING N1,750
in Abuja, Nigeria, Supreme Court Justice Mahmud Mohammed upheld the death sentence of Olayinka Afolalu for robbing a woman of N1,750 at gun point in Ekiti State on April 27, 2002.
JULY 7, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: BUTCHER TO HANG FOR KILLING FRIEND OVER N700
presiding judge Abdullahi Sanya Yerima of the Maiduguri High Court in
- JUNE 29, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
presiding judge Justice Bode Vivors of Nigeria’s Court of Appeal...
presiding judge Justice Bode Vivors of Nigeria’s Court of Appeal...
JUNE 22, 2010MauritaniaDEATH PENALTYMAURITANIA HANDS DOWN DEATH SENTENCES IN CRIME CRACKDOWN
a court in Nouakchott, Mauritania, handed down ten death sentences for
- JUNE 16, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR MURDER
presiding Justice O.D.Afolabi of the High court in Osogbo, Osun state capital, in Nigeria, sentenced Hammed Owonikoko to death by hanging for his role in the murder of Tunde Ojewale on November 11, 2007, at Oba-Oke, in Olorunda local council of Osun state
- JUNE 15, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN, 28, TO DIE FOR KILLING WIFE, 14, OVER SEX
presiding judge Justice Abdullahi Sanya Yerima of the Maiduguri High Court in Nigeria sentenced Abubakar Goni, 28, to death by hanging for killing his 14-year old wife, Amsa Usman Abdu, for refusing him sex. He allegedly stabbed her with a kitchen knife o
JUNE 15, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: GOVERNORS BACK EXECUTION OF CONVICTED PRISONERS
The Nigerian government decided to resume the execution of prison inmates to ease prison
MAY 30, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: 18 PEOPLE EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD
eighteen people including nationals of Nigeria, Chad and Egypt were executed in Libya after being convicted of premeditated murder, Libya's online Qurina news website reported.
- MAY 24, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: PRISONERS FACING DEATH SENTENCE SUE GOVERNORS TO STOP EXECUTION
the 820 prisoners on death row in prisons across Nigeria sued the 36 state governors and the Comptroller-General of Prisons before a Federal High Court, seeking an order to stop their planned execution.
- MAY 11, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a Shari’ah court in Alkaleri, Bauchi State in northern Nigeria...
a Shari’ah court in Alkaleri, Bauchi State in northern Nigeria...
- APRIL 26, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: 2 GET DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING STUDENT
in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Justice Boma Diepreyi sentenced police corporal Wafal Aminu and taxi driver Victor Fabiyi to death for killing student Nnamdi Ajikere, 20.
- APRIL 26, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN TO DIE FOR KILLING NEIGHBOUR
in Nigeria, Gboko high court Justice James Okume sentenced a middle age man to death by hanging for murdering his neigbour, Aoundona Gaji, over an alleged land dispute at Tse-Agbu village in Vandeikya LGA of Benue State.
- APRIL 20, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIAN GOVERNORS APPROVE EXECUTION OF CONVICTED PRISONERS
Nigeria's state governors backed the execution of more than 300 prisoners
- MARCH 29, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS DEATH SENTENCES ON FOUR ROBBERS
Justice Olufunke Adekeye of the Nigerian Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences passed on Samuel Attah...
- MARCH 19, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT CONFIRMS DEATH SENTENCE ON POLICE OFFICER
Justice James Ogebe of the Nigerian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence passed on police officer Olayemi Oludamilola by Justice J. Ottah of the Kogi State High Court.
- FEBRUARY 15, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLING: INSPECTOR TO DIE BY HANGING
in Nigeria, Igbosere High Court Justice Olusola Williams sentenced police inspector Muslim Folorunsho, 60, to death by hanging for murdering Perry Samuel with an AK 47 rifle on or about August 2, 2005.