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
MARCH 16, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING BIOLOGICAL FATHER IN AKWA IBOM
Akwa Ibom State High court sitting in Etinan Local Government Area has sentenced one Moses Abdon Edo, aged 37, to death by hanging for killing his biological father, Abdon Peter Edo over a plot of land, Tribune Online reported on 14 March 2023.
MARCH 2, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 20-YEAR-OLD MAN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR ARMED ROBBERY
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Ikeja Special Offences Court on 13 February 2023 sentenced a 20-year-old man, Nojeem Badmos, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
FEBRUARY 28, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR KILLING WOMAN IN JIGAWA
Jigawa State High Court in Birnin Kudu has sentenced Isyaku Wakili Gwanto to death by hanging for killing Malama Malora Adamu, the Daily Post reported on 16 February 2023.
FEBRUARY 26, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH IN ONDO FOR KILLING COUPLE
The Ondo State High Court in Akure on 14 February 2023 sentenced Messrs Ayuba Idris and Tasur Abubakar to death by hanging for killing a couple.
- FEBRUARY 6, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: TWO OFFICERS OF DISBANDED POLICE UNIT SENTENCED TO DEATH IN RIVERS STATE
Two former officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on 3 February 2023 were sentenced to death by hanging in Rivers state for the killing of Michael Akor and Michael Igwe, while in their custody.
- JANUARY 17, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES 4 TO DEATH BY HANGING IN OSUN
An Osun High Court sitting in Osogbo, on 16 January 2023 sentenced four persons to death by hanging for murder and other related offences.
JANUARY 17, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: VULCANIZER SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR ROBBING NURSE
A 32-year-old vulcanizer, Chidozie Onyinchiz, on 17 January 2023 was sentenced to death by hanging by an Ikeja Special Offences Court, presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada.
JANUARY 11, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 2 SIBLINGS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING RADIO STATION STAFF
Two siblings have been sentenced to death by hanging in Nigeria after a court found them guilty of the killing of a radio station staff, Pulse reported on 22 December 2022.
JANUARY 10, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE AKEREDOLU COMMUTES 7 DEATH SENTENCES TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state on 31 December 2022 invoked his Constitutional power of Prerogative of Mercy to free seven inmates of the Correctional Center serving various terms of imprisonment, just as he commuted seven death sentences to
JANUARY 4, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: ZAMFARA STATE GOVERNOR MATAWALLE PARDONS 9 PRISONERS AWAITING DEATH SENTENCE
Zamfara State Governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle has pardoned 46 prisoners, nine of whom had been sentenced to death by hanging, and five others that were serving life imprisonment in a Medium Correctional Centre, Gusau
- DECEMBER 18, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: KANO CLERIC SHEIKH KABARA SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BLASPHEMY
An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara, was on 15 December 2022 sentenced to death by hanging by an Upper Shari’a Court sitting at Kofar Kudu in Kano State for alleged blasphemy.
DECEMBER 13, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER RAPE, MURDER OF UNILORIN STUDENT
Justice Ibrahim Yusuf of Kwara State High Court on 13 December 2022 sentenced three persons to death by hanging over the rape and murder of a 300-level undergraduate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Omowumi Olajide.
DECEMBER 5, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: CULTIST SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING IN EKITI
An Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti, has sentenced one Segun Iwaetan, to death by hanging for being a cultist and raping a 20-year-old virgin, Daily Post reported on 5 December 2022.
OCTOBER 18, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING THEIR FRIEND AND STEALING HIS CAR IN OGUN
A High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun state, on October 14, 2022 sentenced two men, John Inyere and Chibuike Ukwa, to death by hanging for armed robbery and murder of their friend Chidi Nwite.
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: ZAMFARA GOVERNOR MATAWALLE, ‘BANDITS DESERVE DEATH PENALTY’
Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, has justified the death penalty approved for anyone convicted of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, or cultism in the state.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPING AND KILLING A JOB-SEEKER
Akwa Ibom State High Court, sitting in Uyo, on 4 August 2022 sentenced to death Uduak-Abasi Akpan for the murder of jobseeker Iniubong Umoren.
- SEPTEMBER 14, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: PASTOR, 1 OTHER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING BOY, BURYING HEAD ON ALTAR
An Ikeja Special Offences Court on 9 August 2022 sentenced one Pastor Erinmole Adetokunbo and one Adedoyin Oyekanmi to death for killing a seven-year-old boy for ritual.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: POPULAR TRADITIONAL WRESTLER TO DIE BY HANGING AFTER POUNDING WIFE TO DEATH
A high court sitting in Adamawa state on 16 August 2022 convicted and sentenced popular traditional wrestler, Thankyou Grim, to death by hanging for using pestle to kill his wife in 2018 in Adamawa State.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 82-YEAR-OLD MAN WITH 12 WIVES, 60 CHILDREN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN AKWA IBOM
An 82-year-old Village Head of Efen Ibom, Ika Local Government Area Akwa Ibom State, Chief Essien Matthew Odiong has been sentenced to death by hanging for murder, Idomavoice reported on 13 August 2022.
AUGUST 4, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ARMED ROBBERY
An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, on 1st August 2022, sentenced two kidnappers, 41 years old Kola Makinde, and 30 years old Haruna Bika, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
AUGUST 1, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES 4 TO DEATH OVER MURDER OF EKITI CHIEF
An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced four men to death by hanging over the murder of a traditional chief, Punch reported on 26 July 2022.
JULY 28, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 3 SENTENCED TO DEATH IN NIGER STATE FOR CULPABLE HOMICIDE
A Minna High Court in Niger State has sentenced three men, Mohammed Ibrahim Soja, Sani Idris Boka and Babangida Gido, to death by hanging after they were found guilty of a 10-count charge bordering on culpable homicide, the Daily Trust reported on 25 July
JULY 18, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 3,084 MALES, 61 FEMALES ON DEATH ROW
There are no fewer than 3,145 inmates on death row in custodial centres across Nigeria, PUNCH reported on 10 July 2022.
JULY 14, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: EKITI MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING BROTHER
49-year-old Akinola Ademola has been sentenced to death by hanging for offences of armed robbery and murder, of his elder brother in Ekiti State, Within Nigeria reported on 13 July 2022.
- JULY 6, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: TWO ARMED ROBBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN AKWA IBOM
Two members of a three-man robbery gang, who have been using tricycle to rob innocent members of the public in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, were sentenced to death on 30 June 2022.
- JULY 3, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: ISLAMIC COURT ORDERS DEATH BY STONING FOR MEN CONVICTED OF HOMOSEXUALITY
An Islamic sharia court in Nigeria's northern state of Bauchi has sentenced three men to death by stoning after convicting them on charges of engaging in homosexuality, the leader of the religious police that arrested them said on 1st July 2022.
- JUNE 28, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR ARMED ROBBERY, MURDER IN EKITI
An Ado-Ekiti High Court has sentenced four men, Babangida Amodu, 25, Oluwafemi Ibrahim, 20, Ojo Ayodele, 25, and Okunato Dada, 20, convicted of armed robbery and murder, to die by hanging, the Eagle Online reported on June 27, 2022.
JUNE 23, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: POLYGAMOUS MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING BOYFRIEND OF ONE OF HIS 3 WIVES
A polygamous man has been sentenced to death, and he is to die by hanging after he was found guilty in Nigeria of the murder of the boyfriend of one of his three wives.
JUNE 22, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: EDO MAID SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUGGING, KILLING IGBINEDION’S MOTHER
An Edo State High Court on 20 June 2022 sentenced a maid, Dominion Okoro, to death by hanging for killing Madam Maria Igbinedion, the mother of a former Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.
- JUNE 20, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ARMED ROBBERY IN EKITI
Akinleye Seyi a.k.a. Erin has been sentenced to death by hanging for armed robbery by an Ekiti State high court, Lailasnews reported on 16 June 2022.