STATUTES ON CRIMINAL LAW IN NIGERIA
There is a plethora of statutes in Nigeria that define crime and the characteristics of the actions that make up those crimes as well as the penalties that follow. Legislations that govern the affairs of crime are made by both the National and State House of Assembly as the case may be[2]. A few inexhaustive lists of legislations that regulate the climate of criminal law are as follows;
1. Criminal Code Act[3]: A federal statute that defines various criminal offences and their penalties. It is applicable in the southern part of Nigeria.
2. Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act[4]: A federal statute that defines criminal offences and their punishments. It is applicable in the northern part of Nigeria.
3. Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015[5]: A framework for the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria. It covers aspects such as arrest, bail, trial procedures, and the rights of the accused.
4. Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022[6]: This statute addresses offences related to terrorism and provides measures for the prevention, detection, and punishment of such offences.
5. Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, 2006[7]: This Act criminalizes various forms of fraud, including advance fee fraud, commonly known as “419” fraud.
6. Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011[8]: This Act criminalizes money laundering activities and provides measures for the prevention and detection of money laundering offences.
7. Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act, 2000[9]: This Act criminalizes corruption-related offences and provides for the investigation and prosecution of such offences.
8. Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act[10]: This Act addresses offences related to robbery and the use of firearms in the commission of crimes.
9. Child Rights Act, 2003[11]: While not exclusively a criminal law statute, the Child Rights Act contains provisions addressing offences against children, such as child trafficking and child abuse.
10. Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015[12]: This Act criminalizes human trafficking and provides measures for the prevention, prosecution, and punishment of offences related to trafficking in persons.
The list is inexhaustible, but these legislations are Acts of the National Assembly that act as a regulator on the prescription and prosecution of criminal offences within these statutes.