The death penalty is authorised by Section 33 of the Constitution of Nigeria. Being sentenced to death means a court has officially ordered that a convicted individual be executed as punishment for a crime.
This is a legal penalty for certain serious offences, primarily those involving murder, treason, and armed robbery.
The death sentence is carried out by the state after a court of competent jurisdiction finds the person guilty.
In the past few years, many individuals convicted by the court have remained on death row, and while governors in Nigeria are not very open to signing death warrants. These people are one signature away from losing their lives.
Bamise Ayanwola and Andrew Ominikoron case
In April 2025, the Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square convicted and sentenced to death a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Ominikoron, for the murder of a 22-year-old fashion designer, Bamise Ayanwola.
Delivering judgment, Justice Sherifat Sonaike held that the prosecution successfully proved its case, relying on the doctrine of “last seen” and the victim’s dying declaration to establish Ominikoron’s guilt.
Ominikoron faced a five-count charge, including conspiracy to commit a felony, rape, sexual assault, and murder. He was found guilty on all counts.
The case captured national attention in 2022 after Bamise went missing on February 26, following her boarding of a BRT bus operated by Ominikoron at the Ajah area of Lagos. Her mysterious disappearance ignited public outrage, social media campaigns, and demands for justice.
Nine days later, her body was tragically discovered dumped under the Carter Bridge on Lagos Island.
Soldier and girlfriend’s murder
A General Court Martial sitting at the Headquarters, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, sentenced Private Adamu Mohammed to death by hanging for murder.
The sentence was handed down following the conclusion of his murder trial.
A statement on Tuesday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu said the court martial composed of 11 members, was inaugurated on February 18, 2025, by the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, to adjudicate cases involving erring personnel within the Division.
Delivering judgment on Private Mohammed, the President of the court, Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, said the soldier was found guilty of the murder of his girlfriend, Miss Hauwa Ali, an offence punishable under Section 106(a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Osinachi’s husband was sentenced to death by hanging for murder
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Wuse Zone 2 sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging following his conviction for her murder.
Judge Njideka Nwosu-Iheme, delivering her judgment on Monday, found Peter Nwachukwu guilty of culpable homicide in connection with the death of his wife, Osinachi, on April 8, 2022.
Osinachi, who tragically passed away on April 8, 2022, was initially believed to have died from throat cancer.
The federal government brought a 23-count charge against Nwachukwu, including culpable homicide punishable by death, criminal intimidation, child cruelty, spousal abuse, and other offences.
The trial, which began on June 20, 2022, and concluded on March 10, 2023, saw 17 witnesses testify for the prosecution. The accused’s children also gave testimony as the fourth and fifth prosecution witnesses, PW4 and PW5.
Hanifa Abubakar’s case
On the 28th day of July 2022, Justice Usman Naabba of the Kano State High Court sentenced the Proprietor of Noble Kids College Kano, Abdulmalik Muhammmad Tanko (38), and two others to death by hanging for the kidnapping and killing of Hanifa Abubakar, a five-year-old pupil.
Tanko, alongside his accomplice, Hashim Isyaku and Fatima Musa, were arraigned before the Kano State High Court on a five-count charge of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, confinement, and culpable homicide contrary to sections 97, 274, 277, 221 of the penal code.
Tanko kidnapped and killed Hanifa, a five-year-old pupil, on 4 December 2021, while she was returning from Islamiyya School and subsequently buried her in a shallow grave.
The judge, Usman Nababa, sentenced Mr Tanko, 38, and Hashimu Isyaku, 38, to death by hanging for the kidnapping and killing of Hanifa Abubakar.
The convicts were sentenced to five years each for conspiracy.
Ramon Adedoyin
Ramon Adedoyin, the owner of Hilton Hotels in Ile-Ife, has also been sentenced to death by the Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State, for his role in the murder of Obafemi Awolowo University graduate student Timothy Adegoke.
This verdict upholds a lower court’s earlier decision and brings a measure of closure to a case that has gripped the nation. The appellate court had reserved judgment on the matter since 29 October 2024.
The Appeal Court judgement reads: “The judgment of the High Court of Osun State stands. Adedoyin’s appeal is dismissed in part. The Court of Appeal held that Adedoyin was properly convicted and sentenced to death.”
The appeal court, however, set aside some of the decisions of the lower court.
“Order of forfeiture of Hilton Hotel quashed and set aside. Order of education scholarship to children of Timothy Adegoke by Adedoyin and others quashed and set aside,” the judgment read.
Sunday Jackson
In 2015, Jackson, a 29-year-old farmer and student from Dong Community in Demsa LGA of Adamawa, was working on his farm in Kodomti Community, Numan LGA, when Buba Ardo Bawuro, a herdsman, herded his cattle into his farm to feed on his crops.
Jackson challenged him, but the herdsman pulled out a knife and attacked him twice.
Although wounded, Jackson was able to seize the knife and stab him in return. Bawuro later died from his wounds.
The police arrested and tried the farmer for culpable homicide in the Yola High Court. The charge carried a death sentence under Section 211 of the penal code.
In court, Jackson admitted that his attacker died at his hands, but he maintained his innocence of any crime.
