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
MAY 31, 2005NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA. COURT UPHOLDS MAN’S APPEAL AGAINST STONING TO DEATH
a Sharia Court of Appeal, sitting in Bauchi State, Nigeria, upheld an appeal by Umar Tori against his conviction and sentence to death by stoning for adultery.
- MAY 19, 2005NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
United States Human Rights and Democracy report...
United States Human Rights and Democracy report...
- MAY 9, 2005NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
"A system that would take a life must first give justice."
"A system that would take a life must first give justice."
- APRIL 20, 2005NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria abstained from the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Nigeria abstained from the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA. COURT SENTENCES 15 TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR MURDERS
the Abakaliki high court, Nigeria, sentenced 15 people to death by hanging for killing three over a land dispute.
- MARCH 31, 2005NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA. TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MOTEL MURDER
Bayo Ajia and Olayinka Aare were sentenced to death by the Ilorin High Court, in Nigeria’s Kwara state, after being found guilty of the murder of Abdul Yekini Gobir and AbdulGaniyu Isele in an Ilorin hotel.
- MARCH 24, 2005IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
last-minute efforts by Samuel Iwukchukwu Okoye and Hansen Anthony Nwalise...
last-minute efforts by Samuel Iwukchukwu Okoye and Hansen Anthony Nwalise...
- MARCH 17, 2005NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
the High Court in central Nigeria’s Plateau State sentenced
the High Court in central Nigeria’s Plateau State sentenced
- MARCH 11, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM. SCOT ON DEATH ROW IN NIGERIA HAS MURDER CONVICTION QUASHED
the family of Scottish businessman Ian Millar, sentenced to death in Nigeria, spoke of their relief after his murder conviction was overturned. Millar, 56, spent a year and a half on death row after being found guilty of killing Anne Marie Gale, his girlf
FEBRUARY 18, 2005NigeriaDEATH PENALTYthe Ogwashi Uku High Court in Delta State, Nigeria, sentenced three people to death
the Ogwashi Uku High Court in Delta State, Nigeria, sentenced three people to death
- DECEMBER 28, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
an Islamic Sharia court in northern Nigeria sentenced Danliti Rabiu to be stoned
an Islamic Sharia court in northern Nigeria sentenced Danliti Rabiu to be stoned
- DECEMBER 9, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a Sharia court in Bauchi, Nigeria, overturned a death sentence imposed on Daso Adamu
a Sharia court in Bauchi, Nigeria, overturned a death sentence imposed on Daso Adamu
- NOVEMBER 30, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
the following is part of an editorial written by Udo Jude Ilo, coordinator of...
the following is part of an editorial written by Udo Jude Ilo, coordinator of...
- NOVEMBER 17, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
It was reported that the Nigerian Legal Aid Council...
It was reported that the Nigerian Legal Aid Council was to appeal against the conviction of 30 people by sharia courts for various offences in Bauchi State
- NOVEMBER 15, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a High Court in Nigeria's southeastern city of Owerri...
a High Court in Nigeria's southeastern city of Owerri...
- NOVEMBER 10, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
an Islamic appeal court in Nigeria overturned a sentence of death
an Islamic appeal court in Nigeria overturned a sentence of death
- NOVEMBER 4, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The Nigerian government said it would take a definite...
The Nigerian government said it would take a definite position on the nation's death penalty act in 2005 with a view to abolish or retain the controversial capital punishment in the judicial system
- NOVEMBER 3, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
lawyers for Daso Adamu, a Nigerian mother...
lawyers for Daso Adamu, a Nigerian mother...
- OCTOBER 22, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose, Chairperson of the National...
Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose, Chairperson of the National Study Group on Death Penalty, publicly presented the Report of the Study Group
- OCTOBER 21, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
two Nigerian Muslim women sentenced to death by stoning
two Nigerian Muslim women sentenced to death by stoning
- OCTOBER 5, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Islamic court in Nigeria sentenced a women to death...
Islamic court in Nigeria sentenced a women to death by stoning for having sex out of wedlock, authorities said
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
It was reported that Amnesty International had stepped...
It was reported that Amnesty International had stepped up a campaign to save 10 people on death row in Indonesia
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Islamic law courts in northern Nigeria had failed to...
Islamic law courts in northern Nigeria had failed to respect due legal process and human rights, resulting in discriminatory and harsh sentences, Human Rights Watch said
- SEPTEMBER 15, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Islamic court in Nigeria sentenced a women to death...
Islamic court in Nigeria sentenced a women to death by stoning for having sex out of wedlock, authorities said
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
A Court of Appeal in Malaysia upheld the death sentence...
A Court of Appeal in Malaysia upheld the death sentence of Msimanga Lesaly, a 37-year-old Nigerian businesswoman, for drug trafficking
- AUGUST 24, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
An Ado-Ekiti High Court recently sentenced to death...
An Ado-Ekiti High Court recently sentenced to death three persons by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery
- MAY 19, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
United States Human Rights and Democracy report for...
United States Human Rights and Democracy report for the past year stated that the Nigerian government's human rights record had remained poor while the government had continued to commit serious abuses
- APRIL 21, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria voted against the resolution on the death penalty...
Nigeria voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 60th UN Commission on Human Rights
- APRIL 20, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The Sharia Appeal Court in the central Nigerian city...
The Sharia Appeal Court in the central Nigerian city of Minna, postponed the appeal of a young couple of former lovers who were sentenced to be stoned to death after a new defence lawyer moved to take over the case
- APRIL 11, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
The Nigerian Constitution states at Part II, Chapter IV on Fundamental Rights, Art.33.
The Nigerian Constitution states at Part II, Chapter IV on Fundamental Rights, Art.33.