Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen’s right to life except where a court sentence has been issued in respect of a criminal offence that a person been found guilty of. In this article, we would examine the different examples of capital offence in Nigeria. Some include:
1. Murder:
Also referred to as homicide, it involves the killing of another person in a manner not justified by law. Section 319 of the Criminal Code prescribes the death penalty as punishment for murder .
There are certain situations where killing a person would not be unlawful. Where a police officer shoots an escaping suspect, or where the millitary kills terrorists, it will not be murder.
2. Armed robbery:
This refers to committing the act of stealing by a person carrying a dangerous weapon. It does not matter if such weapon was brandished or used. Section 402 provides that a person guilty of armed robbery is to be sentenced to death.
3. Treason:
An attempt by a person to overthrow a government he or she is subject to is called treason. Section 37 of the Criminal Code prescribes the death penalty as punishment for treason.
4. Conspiracy to commit treason:
Section 37 of the Criminal Code also prescribes the death penalty as punishment for anyone who conspires to commit treason. This could be by supplying weapons to overthrow a government, giving information to an enemy of the government or by doing any other act against one’s allegiance to the government.
Other offences punishable by death include:
5. Fabricating false evidence leading to the conviction of death of an innocent person
6. Aiding the suicide of an innocent child or a lunatic
