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
FEBRUARY 18, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 7 ARMED ROBBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING IN KWARA STATE
Seven armed robbers have been sentenced to death by hanging by a Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, Lawyard reported on 14 February 2020.
FEBRUARY 13, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: GOMBE GOVERNOR PARDONS 31 PRISONERS
Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, on 12 February 2020 pardoned 31 prisoners and commuted the death penalty passed on one other convict to 21-year imprisonment.
FEBRUARY 12, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR STEALING IPHONE 6
An Ogun State High Court sitting at Isabo, Abeokuta, on 11 February 2020 sentenced a man identified as Olumide Adekanbi to death by hanging for armed robbery committed at Saraki-Adigbe area of Abeokuta in 2016.
FEBRUARY 7, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING UBER DRIVER IN ABUJA
The High Court in Nyanya, Abuja, on 6 February 2020 sentenced to death one Obinna Echanu, 42, for killing an Uber driver identified as Edwin Ali.
FEBRUARY 6, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING WIFE
An FCT High Court in Abuja, on 5 February 2020 sentenced a 38-year-old man, Eric Chigbor, to death by hanging for killing his wife.
FEBRUARY 3, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 2 MEN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR ARMED ROBBERY
A High Court in Jos on 3 February 2020 sentenced two men, Dayabu Ahmad 20, and Umar Aliyu, 21, to death by hanging for armed robbery. Justice S.P Gang, found the convicts guilty of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery.
JANUARY 31, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING IN OSUN
Three men, Nuhu Jimoh, Ndubisi David and Aderibigbe Oluwaseun, arrested for armed robbery, were sentenced to death by hanging on 30 January 2020 by an Osun State High Court.
JANUARY 28, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MARYAM SANDA SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING HUSBAND
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on 27 January 2020 sentenced to death Maryam Sanda for the killing of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
JANUARY 24, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO ROBBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING IN ADO-EKITI
Two middle-aged men, Ganiu Issah and Jamiu Idris, were sentenced to death by hanging for armed robbery in a court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Lawyard.ng reported on 23 January 2020.
JANUARY 23, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES 22-YEAR-OLD MAN TO DEATH BY HANGING IN KANO
A Kano State High Court sitting on 20 January 2020 sentenced 22-year-old Ibrahim Suleiman to death by hanging for killing a 5-year-old girl.
JANUARY 17, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: APPEAL COURT SENTENCES THREE TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR ARMED ROBBERY AND CULPABLE HOMICIDE
The Yola Division of the Court of Appeal has sentenced three men to death by hanging for armed robbery and culpable homicide, reported The Nation on 16 January 2020.
JANUARY 7, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 2,745 CONDEMNED INMATES AWAITING DEATH NATIONWIDE
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), says about 2,745 inmates condemned to death are awaiting execution in its facilities across the country.
JANUARY 7, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: OBASEKI RELEASES ONE, TRANSMUTES DEATH SENTENCE OF FOUR PRISONERS
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the conversion of the death sentence of four prisoners to life imprisonment, The Nation reported on 2nd January 2020.
JANUARY 2, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: ONDO STATE GOVERNOR AKEREDOLU PARDONS THREE CONDEMNED INMATES ON DEATH ROW
The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on 30 December 2019 granted state pardon to three condemned inmates across the various Correctional Centres on death row in the state.
- JANUARY 1, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Death sentences are mandatory for murder but also non lethal offences
Death sentences are mandatory for murder but also non lethal offences
- DECEMBER 11, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING CO-WIFE, SEVEN STEP CHILDREN
State High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital has sentenced a woman, Mrs Agnes Nwefuru, to death by hanging for killing her co-wife and seven children.
- NOVEMBER 21, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: NO GOVERNOR SUPPORTS DEATH PENALTY AS PUNISHMENT FOR HATE SPEECH
Governors of the thirty- six states of the country under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), said on 20 November 2019 that no governor has come out to support the death penalty proposed for Hate Speech offenders.
NOVEMBER 15, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KIDNAPPING LAGOS MONARCH, KILLING PALACE GUARD
An Ikeja Special Offences Court on 13 November 2019 sentenced to death three men who kidnapped a Lagos monarch and killed his palace guard.
- NOVEMBER 14, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA REINTRODUCES DEATH PENALTY BILL FOR HATE SPEECH THAT INCITES MURDER
The Nigerian Senate has reportedly reintroduced a bill, that it had previously abandoned, which will impose the death penalty on anybody found guilty of hate speech that incites the death of another person.
NOVEMBER 6, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: KANO GOVT APPROVES DEATH PENALTY FOR KIDNAPPERS
The Kano State Government has approved death penalty for anyone found guilty of kidnapping across the state.
- OCTOBER 29, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES 2 MEN TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR MURDER IN EKITI
An Ado Ekiti High Court, has sentenced two men to death by hanging for conspiracy, murder and unlawful possession of human skull, the Pulse reported on 28 October 2019.
- OCTOBER 18, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT PASSES DEATH SENTENCE ON KILLER OF MTN STAFF
Kwara state High Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital on 15 October 2019 sentenced killer of a staff of telecoms giant MTN, one Ogundele David to death by hanging.
OCTOBER 1, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SEVEN CONDEMNED INMATES, 18 OTHERS GET PARDON IN ONDO
The Ondo State government has pardoned 18 inmates across the various prison facilities in the state.
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: FATHER, SON SENTENCED TO DEATH IN ZAMFARA
High court 3 in Gusau, Zamfara State on 26 September 2019 sentenced one Ibrahim Hamida of Gobirawa village in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state and his son, Ashiru Ibrahim, to death, for culpable homicide.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING ONDO APC CHIEFTAIN
A 25-year-old man, David Seimiyengha, has been sentenced to death by an Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the state capital, for committing kidnapping and murder, punchng.com reported on 22 September 2019.
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: 2 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ARMED ROBBERY
Two men, Emeka Alieze and Dada Ojo, have been sentence to death by an Akure High Court for their involvement in armed robbery, The Hope reported on 6 September 2019.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 2,742 INMATES AWAITING EXECUTION
The controller general, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Ahmed Jafa’aru on 5 September 2019 revealed that Nigeria now has 2,742 inmates on death row.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: ZAMFARA GOVERNOR PARDONS 150 INMATES, INCLUDING FIVE ON DEATH ROW
The governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawallen, on 9 August 2019 granted amnesty to 150 inmates at the Gusau Maximum Security Prison.
SEPTEMBER 4, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING GIRLFRIEND IN ONDO
An Ondo State High Court, sitting in Akure, the state capital on 3 September 2019 sentenced a 26-year-old man, Saliu Oladayo to death by hanging, for killing his girlfriend, late Confidence Ebere.
- AUGUST 9, 2019NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES 2 TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR ROBBERY
Two men have been sentenced to death by hanging by a High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti for robbery and illegal possession of firearms, the Leadership reported on 8 August 2019.