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
FEBRUARY 17, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH BY HANGING IN RIVERS
The High Court of Rivers State sitting in Port Harcourt has convicted and sentenced Mr. Eze Kingsley to death by hanging, for the murder of Wagbara David, The Sun reported on February 12, 2025.
FEBRUARY 12, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: NAFDAC PROPOSES DEATH PENALTY FOR DEALERS OF HARMFUL DRUGS
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has proposed the introduction of the death penalty for drug peddlers
FEBRUARY 6, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 'WITCHCRAFT' MURDER
Five men have been sentenced to death by hanging in Nigeria's Kano state for the 2023 murder of a woman they accused of witchcraft, BBC News reported on February 4, 2025.
- JANUARY 30, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: 22-YEAR-OLD JAMIU SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING SEX WORKER
An Abeokuta High Court on January 22, 2025 sentenced 22-year-old Jamiu Malomo to death by hanging for stabbing a sex worker to death.
JANUARY 28, 2025NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR STABBING FRIEND OVER PHONE CHARGER
A High Court in Bauchi State has sentenced Usman Abdullahi to death by hanging for the murder of Zaidu Adamu Kofar Dumi.
- DECEMBER 31, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ORGAN HARVESTING IN NASARAWA
A Nasarawa State High Court sitting in Akwanga on December 31, 2024 sentenced Gambo Adamu to death by hanging for the murder of Hassan Ahmed, whose organs were harvested in the Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.
DECEMBER 18, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: OSUN GOVERNOR ORDERS PROBE, CLEMENCY FOR MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR STEALING FOWL
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has ordered an urgent review of the case involving a teenager sentenced to death for stealing a fowl.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA COURT FREES 119 PROTESTERS, SOME FACING DEATH PENALTY, AFTER GOVERNMENT DROPS CHARGES
A Nigerian court freed 119 people, including 30 minors, on November 5, 2024, after the authorities dropped charges against them arising from deadly protests in August against economic hardship.
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES 3 TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF ARMY COMMANDANT
The Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, on September 24, 2024, sentenced three persons to death by hanging for the murder of Col. Anthony Okeyin, the commandant of Nigeria Army Secondary School, Apata, Ibadan.
AUGUST 1, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES 3 PERSONS TO DEATH FOR ARMED ROBBERY, MURDER IN OSUN STATE
A watchmaker, Oludayo Oladele, an electrician, Awodeji Muyiwa, and a herb seller, Jelili Kareem on July 9, 2024 were sentenced to death for robbing and killing a corps member, Adebayo Mukaila in Osogbo, Osun State capital.
JULY 25, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: DELTA COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH FOR KILLING TWINS FOR RITUALS
A High Court sitting at Asaba, the Delta State capital, on July 16,2024 sentenced one Onuwa Ijie to death, and Nwanozie Uzor to 14 years imprisonment for murder and conspiracy to commit the murder of twin boys, Chidalu and Chigozie Agwunobi.
- JULY 17, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: TWO TO DIE BY HANGING FOR MURDER, RAPE IN DELTA
A Delta State High Court sitting at Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area on July 1st, 2024 sentenced two men, Mr Ojerbo Solomon and Mr Ola Babatunde, to death after eight years of trials.
- JULY 4, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: FIVE TO DIE BY HANGING FOR HERDER’S KILLING IN OSUN
Five men standing trial for the abduction and murder of a Fulani herder, Ibrahim Adamu, who until his death was selling cows at Owode-Ede, Osun State, were on July 2, 2024 sentenced to death by hanging by an Osun State High Court.
JULY 1, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SUPREME COURT FREES SOLDIER ON DEATH ROW AFTER 12 YEARS
The Supreme Court on June 28, 2024 discharged and acquitted a Nigerian Army Sergeant, Akawu Bala from the death sentence imposed on him by the General Court Martial of the Nigerian Army.
JUNE 20, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES TWO TO DEATH IN JIGAWA
The Jigawa State High Court sitting in Birnin Kudu on June 14, 2024 sentenced two persons to death for conspiring and killing Yakubu Ibrahim and dumping his dead body by the roadside.
- JUNE 15, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: FOUR TO DIE BY HANGING FOR ARMED ROBBERY, MURDER IN EKITI
An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, on June 13, 2024 sentenced four persons to death by hanging for armed robbery, murder and conspiracy.
JUNE 13, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: PLATEAU, OGUN, KADUNA GOVS PARDON 164 PRISONERS
In commemoration of Democracy Day on June 12, 2024, the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, granted pardon to 13 inmates serving various jail terms in the state.
JUNE 5, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: WOMAN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR MURDERING EX-HUSBAND
A High Court in Birnin Kebbi on June 3, 2024 sentenced a woman, Farida Abubakar, to death by hanging for killing her former husband, Chief Magistrate Attahiru Muhammad-Ibrahim.
MAY 28, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO TO DIE BY HANGING FOR STEALING N105,000, PHONES, OTHERS IN EKITI
An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti division, on May 23, 2024 sentenced two persons, Benjamin Joseph (32), and Stephen Orban (25), to death by hanging for robbing two persons of cash and valuable items.
MAY 16, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SHARIA COURT SENTENCES BAUCHI MAN TO DEATH BY STONING FOR HOMOSEXUALITY
A middle-aged man, Abdullahi Sani from Unguwar Makara Huta, on May 10, 2024 was sentenced to death by stoning by a Sharia Court in Ningi, the headquarters of Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, for alleged homosexuality.
MAY 11, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SENATE PROPOSES DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Nigeria's Senate on May 9, 2024 proposed significantly toughening penalties for drug trafficking, making the death penalty the new maximum sentence through a law amendment.
- MAY 7, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES THREE TO DEATH FOR ARMED ROBBERY IN EKITI
An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced three persons, Oyebanji Sola, Jimoh Azeez and Ogunlade Babatunde, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
- APRIL 23, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: OSUN COURT SENTENCES TWO SERIAL ROBBERS TO DEATH BY HANGING
An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo, on April 18, 2024 sentenced Wasiu Afolayan (36) and Kola Adeyemi (34), to death by hanging for offences bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.
APRIL 16, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: CHINESE MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING HIS GIRLFRIEND
A Nigerian court on March 26, 2024 sentenced a Chinese national to death after finding him guilty of killing his girlfriend, a government official told The Associated Press, vowing to recommend execution if he unsuccessfully appeals the ruling.
- APRIL 14, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING RIVERS VIGILANTE COMMANDER
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on March 18, 2024, convicted and sentenced five people to death by hanging for the murder of Umezuruike Alex, the commander of a local vigilante codenamed OSPAC (Onelga Security Peace and Advisory Commit
APRIL 3, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TARABA CJ SENTENCES TWO TO DEATH FOR KIDNAPPING
Taraba state chief judge, Justice Joel Agya, on March 8, 2024, sentenced one Yusufa Adamu and Adamu Abdullahi to death by hanging for kidnapping Balkisu Kambe and Maryam Musa.
- MARCH 13, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: EKITI STATE HIGH COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH FOR ARMED ROBBERY
The Ekiti State High Court has handed down a death sentence to 30-year-old Bello Abduquadri, convicted of armed robbery, Bnnbreaking reported on March 11, 2024.
FEBRUARY 14, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES KILLER OF ENUGU-BASED MAKEUP ARTIST TO DEATH
An Enugu State High Court on February 7, 2024 sentenced Chiamaka Ifezue to death by hanging for killing an Enugu-based makeup artist, Ijeoma Nweke.
- FEBRUARY 6, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: FIVE VIGILANTE MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING TEENAGER
The Kano State High Court on January 25, 2024 sentenced five vigilante members to death by hanging for stabbing one Ahmed Musa,17, to death.
- JANUARY 31, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR ARMED ROBBERY
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of a Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on January 31, 2024 convicted and sentenced a man, Emmanuel Iwuno, to death by hanging for armed robbery.