How capital punishment took root in Nigeria and across Africa — the laws, the landmark cases, and the moments that began to turn the tide. Open any milestone to read more.
Adapted from English law, the colonial Criminal Code prescribes death by hanging for murder and treason in the south.
Adapted from English law, the colonial Criminal Code prescribes death by hanging for murder and treason in the south — a framework that survives largely intact into independence.
A separate Penal Code introduces its own schedule of capital offences across the northern region.
A separate Penal Code introduces its own schedule of capital offences across the northern region, creating two parallel legal traditions.
Armed robbery becomes punishable by death.
Armed robbery becomes punishable by death, sharply widening the range of crimes that can end in execution.
A government-convened group documents unsafe convictions.
A government-convened group documents unsafe convictions and recommends a moratorium on executions.
A second official body cites systemic delay and poor representation.
A second official body cites systemic delay, poor representation and the risk of executing the innocent.
A small number of executions are carried out after years of de facto moratorium.
A small number of executions are carried out after years of de facto moratorium, drawing international concern.
Governors commute sentences as advocacy intensifies.
Governors commute sentences as civil-society advocacy and strategic litigation intensify.
Advocates press for centralised, disaggregated death-row data.
Advocates press for centralised, disaggregated death-row data — the precise gap this Monitor is built to close.