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
OCTOBER 6, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: GOVERNOR AKEREDOLU PARDONS 18 CONVICTED INMATES IN ONDO
The Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has granted state pardons to 18 convicts in celebration of Nigeria’s 61st independence anniversary.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR KILLING WIFE IN JIGAWA
A Jigawa State High Court sitting in Gumel on 5 August 2021 sentenced a 40-year-old man Rabi’u Mamman to death by hanging for killing his wife.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MINISTER OF INTERIOR ASKS GOVERNORS TO SIGN DEATH WARRANTS OF 3,000
The Nigerian Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, on 23 July 2021 urged state governors to sign the death warrants of the 3,008 condemned criminals in the country waiting for execution.
- JULY 22, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING HIS BOSS’S WIFE
A 37-year-old man, Adeyemi Morenikeji, on 16 July 2021 was sentenced to death in Oyo State for the killing of Mrs Racheal Ayanwale, his boss’s wife.
JULY 19, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO POLICEMEN, THREE OTHERS TO DIE FOR KIDNAPPING
Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of the state on 16 July 2021 sentenced two police officers and three other persons to death for kidnapping in the state.
JULY 19, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR ARMED ROBBERY
A High Court in Abeokuta, on 16 July 2021 sentenced a 44-year-old man, Tosin Shodunke to death by hanging for armed robbery.
JULY 13, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 24-YEAR-OLD SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR STEALING PHONES, CASH IN EKITI
An Ekiti State High Court on 29 June 2021 sentenced a 24-year-old man, Sola Jegede, to death by hanging for robbing three men of their phones and money.
JULY 7, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: KIDNAPPER SENTENCED TO DEATH IN BAYELSA
An Ogbia High Court sitting in Yenagoa on 28 June 2021 sentenced to death by firing squad a 39-year old man, Charles Nikson, for his involvement in the November 2020 thwarted abduction of Mrs. Vivian Okoye.
JUNE 19, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 22-YEAR-OLD MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER ARMED ROBBERY IN EKITI
A High Court in Ado Ekiti on 17 June 2021 sentenced a 22-year-old man, Kehinde Olajide, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
APRIL 21, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: DETAINED WITHOUT CHARGES, RENOWNED ATHEIST STILL IN PRISON
The self-proclaimed atheist Mubarak Bala is still in detention in northern Nigeria after he was arrested by the police and taken to an unknown destination, according to his family and human rights organizations, Afp reported on 20 April 2021.
FEBRUARY 25, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: JIGAWA STATE GOVERNOR SIGNS LAW APPROVING DEATH SENTENCE FOR RAPISTS
The Governor of Jigawa State, Muhammad Badaru, on 24 February 2021 assented to a bill stipulating stiffer punishment for rapists.
- FEBRUARY 16, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: DISMISSED SARS OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLING
A State High Court in Benin City, Edo Sate, on 12 February 2021, sentenced a police constable, Joseph Omotosho, to death for conspiring with four other constables, said to be at large, to kill a car dealer in 2015.
- FEBRUARY 10, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: 40-YEAR-OLD MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER ARMED ROBBERY
Akwa Ibom State High Court on 8 February 2021 sentenced a 40-year-old man, Kufre Christopher Archibong, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
- FEBRUARY 4, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR ARMED ROBBERY
An Abeokuta High Court on 3 February 2021 sentenced a 33-year-old man, Ibrahim Toyin, to death by hanging for robbing a woman of her handbag at gunpoint.
FEBRUARY 1, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: KEBBI STATE APPROVES DEATH SENTENCE FOR KIDNAPPERS
Kebbi State governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu on 28 January 2021 signed a law that prescribes the death penalty for convicted kidnappers.
JANUARY 23, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SETS ASIDE DEATH SENTENCE IMPOSED ON KANO SINGER OVER BLASPHEMY
A Kano state high court (appeal division) has set aside the death sentence imposed on Yahya Sharif Aminu, a Kano-based singer, convicted for blasphemy.
JANUARY 13, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SOLDIER TO DIE BY FIRING SQUAD
A Nigeria Army General Court Martial on 12 January 2021 sentenced a soldier, Azunna Mmaduabuchi, to death by firing squad for killing an officer.
JANUARY 4, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: KADUNA GOV EL-RUFAI PARDONS 12 PRISONERS, COMMUTES A DEATH SENTENCE
Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State has granted pardon to 12 prisoners in the state to mark the beginning of 2021.
JANUARY 2, 2021NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: JIGAWA HIGH COURT SENTENCES TWO TO DEATH BY HANGING
Jigawa State High Court on 29 December 2020 sentenced two persons to death by hanging in different cases.
- DECEMBER 26, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: OSUN MECHANIC TO DIE BY HANGING FOR ARMED ROBBERY
An Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa on 17 December 2020 sentenced a 29-year-old mechanic, Sola Emorua, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
DECEMBER 8, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: APPEAL COURT UPHOLDS MARYAM SANDA’S DEATH SENTENCE
The Court of Appeal in the Nigerian capital Abuja on 4 December 2020 affirmed the death penalty imposed on Maryam Sanda, a mother of two, who was sentenced to death for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in November 2017.
- DECEMBER 3, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: ONDO COURT SENTENCES THREE TO DEATH FOR ARMED ROBBERY
Three persons, Ikechukwu Chukwu, Obieze Sylvanus and Chidiebere Obi, have been sentenced to death by hanging by an Ondo State High Court, The Nation reported on 27 November 2020.
NOVEMBER 25, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH IN EKITI FOR ROBBERY
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, on 24 November 2020 sentenced two persons, Adekunle Osho, 31, and Chinedu Ugwu, 34, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
NOVEMBER 21, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR KILLING SON FOR RITUAL PURPOSE IN ADAMAWA
A high court in Adamawa State sentenced a man to death for killing his son, the Daily Post reported on 19 November 2020.
- NOVEMBER 12, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR ROBBERY IN EKITI
An Ekiti State high court sitting in Ado Ekiti on 11 November 2020 sentenced two persons; Lanre Kayode, 34 and Olanrewaju Aremu, 35, to death by hanging for conspiracy and burglary.
NOVEMBER 9, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR ROBBERY
A 44-year-old man, Rafiu Saheed was on 5 November 2020 sentenced to death by hanging for armed robbery and attempted murder in Osun State.
OCTOBER 11, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: HIGH COURT SENTENCES SERIAL KILLER TO DEATH BY HANGING
A Nigerian court handed out a death penalty sentence on 9 October 2020 to convicted serial killer Gracious David-West, accused in the deaths of nine women.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: KADUNA STATE SAYS RAPISTS WILL FACE SURGICAL CASTRATION
The governor of Nigeria’s Kaduna state has signed a law saying men convicted of rape will face surgical castration, and anyone raping a child under age 14 will face the death penalty, AP reported on 17 September 2020.
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: FIVE TO DIE BY HANGING IN RIVERS
A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has convicted and sentenced five persons to death by hanging for the murder of a staff member of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Anthony Okoro, The Nation reported on 9 September
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: YAM THIEF SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING FARMER
An Ekiti State high court, Ado Ekiti division, on 17 August 2020 sentenced a 26-year-old man, Dele Ojo, to death by hanging for murder.