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
JUNE 14, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: GOV. FINTIRI PARDONS SIX CONVICTS; COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has pardoned six convicts and commuted the death sentence of a condemned inmate to life imprisonment, as part of activities to mark the 2022 Democracy Day.
MAY 31, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO EKITI MEN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR ROBBING 53-YEAR-OLD LECTURER
An Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti, has sentenced 36-year-old Fakorede Olawale and 39-year-old Tunji Olaitan to death for armed robbery, Punch reported on 31 May 2022.
MAY 30, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DIE BY HANGING FOR KILLING PREGNANT WIFE
A 52-year-old Nigerian man, Nkereuwem Etim Emah, on 27 May 2022 was sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of his pregnant wife.
MAY 23, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: DANISH MAN SENTENCED TO DIE FOR KILLING WIFE, DAUGHTER
A Nigerian court on 20 May 2022 sentenced a Danish man to death after finding him guilty of killing his wife, a Nigerian, and his 3-year-old daughter at their residence in the West African country in 2018.
MAY 9, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR THE MURDER OF HER HUSBAND ALONGSIDE FAMILY PASTOR IS RELEASED FROM PRISON
A woman jailed for killing her husband has been released from prison in Benin city, Edo state, after a landmark ruling at the Supreme Court, Standard Gazette reported on 6 May 2022.
- MAY 8, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF MONARCH IN EKITI
Justice Olukayode Ogundana of the Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti, on 5 May 2022 sentenced a 42-year-old man, Ademola Omoniyi to death by hanging for the murder of a traditional ruler in the state.
MAY 4, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SENATE OUTLAWS RANSOM PAYMENTS, SETS DEATH PENALTY FOR ABDUCTIONS
Nigeria's Senate on 27 April 2022 passed a bill imposing jail terms of at least 15 years for paying a ransom to free someone who has been kidnapped...
MARCH 29, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: ABUJA COURT SENTENCES FOUR MEN TO DEATH BY HANGING
The Zuba High Court sitting at the Gwagwalada High Court Division, Abuja, has sentenced four men to death by hanging for armed robbery, Punch reported on 28 March 2022.
MARCH 24, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN EKITI FOR RAPING, KILLING LANDLADY
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on 23 March 2022 sentenced a man, Tunmise Abraham, to death by hanging for raping and killing his landlady, Mrs Bukola Olanrewaju, a mother of three.
MARCH 17, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: CLERIC SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING FRIEND IN LAGOS
A Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, on 16 March 2022, sentenced a 34-year-old cleric, Fatai Afobaje, to death for killing his friend and mutilating his body
- MARCH 16, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: THREE PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN RIVERS STATE
After 11 years of trial, Godffrey Hanson, Chima Wokoma and Andy Clement have been sentenced to death by hanging in Rivers state for the murder of Chief Precious Nwali and Charles Nwogu, a former director at the state Ministry of Health, Elanhub reported o
- FEBRUARY 21, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: TWO POLICEMEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ARMED ROBBERY
Justice Peter Kekemeke of an FCT High Court on 17 February 2022 sentenced two dismissed policemen to death for armed robbery.
FEBRUARY 10, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING SEX WORKER
A State High Court, Ontisha, Anambra State, on 9 February 2022 sentenced two men to death for killing a sex worker.
FEBRUARY 9, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: NIGER COURT SENTENCES 11 TO DEATH BY HANGING
A Minna High Court has sentenced 11 persons to death by hanging for their involvement in the murder of seven villagers over a land dispute in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State.
- FEBRUARY 1, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: 4 ROBBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN KANO FOR MURDER
Four armed robbery suspects have been sentenced to death by hanging by a Kano High Court presided by Justice Nasiru Saminu, The Sun reported on 30 January 2022.
JANUARY 24, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: BENUE STATE GOVERNOR ORTOM GRANTS AMNESTY TO 50 CONVICTS
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has granted amnesty to 50 convicts serving various jail terms across the country.
JANUARY 19, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: EKITI COURT SENTENCES EX-SOLDIER, OTHER TO DEATH FOR ARMED ROBBERY
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on 17 January 2022 sentenced a 36-year-old former soldier, Olasoji Damilola and 32-year-old Benson Koiki to death by hanging for armed robbery.
JANUARY 18, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: PRISONS IN 10 STATES HOLD 80% OF COUNTRY’S DEATH ROW INMATES
Correctional centers across Nigeria house 3,602 death-row inmates, based on data obtained by the Premium Times newspaper.
- DECEMBER 29, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: 4 GANG MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ARMED ROBBERY IN OGUN
An Abeokuta High Court on 24 December 2021 sentenced four gang members to death by hanging for armed robbery.
- DECEMBER 7, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR ROBBING, KILLING HIS OWN BROTHER
An Ado Ekiti High Court on 6 December 2021 sentenced 24-year-old Ebenezer Olorunleke to death by hanging for killing his own brother.
DECEMBER 2, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: EVANS THE KIDNAPPER SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans the kidnapper, was reportedly sentenced to death by hanging by a Lagos High Court on 25 November 2021.
DECEMBER 1, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING UNCLE OVER FATHER’S PROPERTY IN AKWA IBOM
Two men, Joseph Etim and Christopher Macaulay on 24 November 2021 were sentenced to death by hanging for killing their uncle, Imo Edet, over landed property in Akwa Ibom.
NOVEMBER 18, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING HIS FATHER IN AKWA IBOM
A 36-year-old man, Victor Obit, on 10 November 2021 was sentenced to death by hanging by the Akwa Ibom State High Court for killing his father.
NOVEMBER 17, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER IN EKITI
An Ekiti State high court, sitting in Ado Ekiti, has sentenced one Danjuma Fayomi Femi, 30, and Jamiu Oyediran, 30, to death for conspiracy and murder of one Adeoye Adegoke, the National Daily reported on 12 November 2021.
NOVEMBER 11, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES BOKO HARAM MEMBER TO DEATH
An Ekiti State High Court on 10 November 2021 sentenced to death by hanging Abdulsalam Adinoyi, a self-confessed member of the terrorist group Boko Haram.
NOVEMBER 9, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: FARMER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DEFENDING HIMSELF AGAINST HERDSMAN
A High Court sitting in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, on 2 November 2021 sentenced a rice farmer, Kabiru Zelani to death by hanging for stabbing an intruding herder to death.
- NOVEMBER 7, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: EKITI MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ROBBING NEIGHBOUR OF CAR
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on 2 November 2021 sentenced a 43-year-old man, Taiwo Afolabi, to death by hanging for robbery.
OCTOBER 26, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: PASTOR ON DEATH ROW REGAINS FREEDOM AFTER 14 YEARS IN PRISON
The resident pastor of Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Apapa, Lagos, Pastor David, who was sentenced to death has been released.
- OCTOBER 13, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: KANO MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING WIFE
A Kano State High Court on 12 October 2021 sentenced a man, Aminu Inuwa, to death by hanging for killing his wife Safara’u Mamman.
- OCTOBER 11, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING 2 WOMEN IN KOGI
A High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, on 29 September 2021 sentenced a middle-aged man, Danladi Ichado to death by hanging for stabbing two women to death.