CRIMINAL CODE ACT

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CRIMINAL CODE ACT

CHAPTER C38 LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA, L.F.N. 2004

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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

[The original numbering of sections has been retained in order not to disturb the cross‐references to those sections in other enactments which are many and will be found throughout the whole Edition.]

1.       Short title.

1A.     Savings in respect of Northern States.

2.       The Criminal Code and extent.

3.       Construction of Acts, Laws, Rules, Regulations, and other Instruments.

4.       Provisions of Code, exclusive with certain exceptions.

5.       Civil remedies.

6.       Contempt of court.

7.       Printing of amendments.

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SCHEDULE

THE CRIMINAL CODE

PART 1 — Introductory

INTERPRETATION: APPLICATION: GENERAL PRINCIPLES

CHAPTER 1 — Interpretation

1. Interpretation.

2. Definition of offence.

3. Division of offences.

4. Attempts to commit offences.

5. Arrest without warrant.

6. Carnal knowledge.

CHAPTER 2 — Parties to Offences

7. Principal offenders.

8. Offences committed in prosecution of common purpose.

9. Mode of execution immaterial.

10. Accessories after the fact.

CHAPTER 3 — Application of Criminal Law

10A. nterpretation.

11. Effect of changes in law.

12. Application of code as to offences wholly or partially committed in Nigeria.

l2A. Offences against laws of a State.

13. Offences procured or counselled by persons out of Nigeria.

13 A. Offences against State laws procured, etc., outside the State.

14. Offences procured in Nigeria to be committed out of Nigeria.

l4A. Offences procured in the State to be committed out of the State.

15. Armed Forces and Police Forces.

16.(Repealed by No. 43 of 1945).

CHAPTER 4 — Punishments

17. Kinds of punishment.

18. Caning for male persons under seventeen.

19. Forfeiture of bribes.

20. Forfeiture of property used in postal offences.

21. Prerogative.

CHAPTER 5 — Criminal Responsibility

22. Ignorance of Law.

23. Bona fide claim of right.

24. Intention: motive.

25. Mistake of fact.

26. Extraordinary emergencies.

27. Presumption of sanity.

28. Insanity.

29. Intoxication.

30. Immature age.

31. Judicial Officers.

32. Justification and excuse: compulsion.

33. Compulsion of husband.

34. No conspiracy between husband and wife alone.

35. Offences by partners and members of companies with respect to partnership or corporate property.

36. Liability of husband and wife for offences committed by either with respect to the other’s property.

PART 2 — Offences against public order

CHAPTER 6

37. Treason.

38. Instigating invasion of Nigeria.

39. Provision as to juvenile offenders and pregnant women.

40. Concealment of treason.

41. Treasonable felonies.

42. Promoting inter‐communal war.

43. Time for proceeding in cases of treason, concealment of treason or promoting inter‐communal war.

44. Inciting to mutiny.

45. Aiding and inciting to mutinous acts or disobedience of members of Armed Forces or Policemen.

46. Inducing such persons to desert.

46A. Causing disaffection among members of Armed Forces, Police or Prison Officers.

47. Effect of proceeding under sections 44 and 45.

48. Assisting or allowing escape of prisoners of war.

49. Overt act.

CHAPTER 6A — Treachery

49A. Death penalty for treachery.

49B. Joinder of charges and place of trial of offences.

49C. Extent of Chapter.

49D. (Deleted by L.N. 112 of 1964).

CHAPTER 7 — Sedition and the importation of seditious or undesirable publications

50. Interpretation.

51. Offences.

52. Legal proceedings: evidence.

53. Unlawful oaths to commit capital offences.

54. Other unlawful oaths to commit offences.

55. Compulsion: how far a defence.

56. Effect of prosecution.

57. Unlawful drilling.

58. Power to prohibit importation of publications.

(6) Offences.

(8) Delivery of prohibited publication to police and administrative officers.

(9) Power to examine packages.

59. Publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to public.

60. Defamation of persons exercising sovereign authority over a State.

CHAPTER 8 — Offences against the executive and legislative power

61. Interference with executive or legislative power.

CHAPTER 9 — Unlawful societies

62. Definition of society and unlawful society.

62A. Unlawful societies in a State.

63. Managing an unlawful society.

64. Members of unlawful society: persons permitting an unlawful society to meet on their premises.

65. Provisions relating to prosecutions for offences under sections 63 and 64.

66. Powers of peace officers in relation to unlawful societies.

67. Disposition of property of society declared to be an unlawful society.

68. Forfeiture.

CHAPTER 10 — Unlawful assemblies: breaches of the peace

69. Definitions: Unlawful assembly Riot.

70. Punishment of unlawful assembly.

71. Punishment of riot.

72. Making proclamation for rioters to disperse.

73. Dispersion of rioters after proclamation made.

74. Rioting after proclamation.

75 Preventing or obstructing the making of proclamation.

76. Rioters demolishing buildings, machinery, railway, etc.

77. Rioters injuring buildings, machinery, railway, etc.

78. Smuggling or rescuing goods under arms.

79. Smuggling under arms or in disguise.

80. Going armed so as to cause fear.

81. Forcible entry.

82. Forcible detainer.

83. Affray.

84. Challenge to fight a duel.

85. Prize fight.

86. Threatening violence.

87. Assembling for the purpose of smuggling.

88. Unlawful processions.

88A. Provoking breach of peace by offensive publication.

PART 3 — Offences against the administration of law and justice and against public authority

CHAPTER 11 — Disclosure of official secrets and abstracting document

89.(Deleted by No.31 of 1941).

90.(Deleted by No.31 of 1941).

91.(Deleted by No.31 of 1941).

92.(Deleted by No. 31 of 1941).

93.(Deleted by No.31 of 1941).

94.(Deleted by No.31 of 1941).

95.(Deleted by No.31 of 1941).

96.(Deleted by No. 31 of 1941).

97.Disclosure of official secrets.

(2) Public servant abstracting, etc., documents.

(3) Restriction on prosecutions.

CHAPTER 12 — Corruption and abuse of office

98.Official corruption: public official inviting bribes, etc., on account of own actions.

98A. Official corruption: person giving bribes, etc., on account of actions of public official.

98B. Official corruption: person inviting bribes, etc., on account of actions of public official.

98C. Restrictions on arrest and prosecution of judicial officers for offences under sections 98 to 98B.

98D. Meaning of “public official” in sections 98 to 98B.

99. Extortion by public officers.

100.(Deleted by 1966 No. 84).

101. Public officers interested in contracts.

102. Officers charged with administration of property of a special character or with special duties.

103. False claims by officials.

104. Abuse of office.

105. False certificates by public officers.

106. Administering extra‐judicial oaths.

107. False assumption of authority.

108. Impersonating public officers.

109. Impersonating members of Armed Forces or Police.

110. Unlawfully wearing of the uniform of the Armed Forces.

111. Selling, etc., uniform, etc., to unauthorised persons.

CHAPTER 13 — Selling and Trafficking in offices

112. Bargaining for offices in public service.

CHAPTER 14 — Offences relating to the administration of justice

113. Definition of judicial proceeding.

114. (Deleted by 1966 No. 84).

115. (Deleted by 1966 No. 84).

116. (Deleted by 1966 No. 84).

117. Perjury,

118. Punishment of perjury.

119. Evidence on charge of perjury.

120. Fabricating evidence.

121 Corruption of witnesses.

122 Deceiving witnesses.

123. Destroying evidence.

124. Preventing witnesses from attending.

125. Conspiracy to bring false accusation.

125A. Making false statement to public officers with intent.

126. Perverting justice.

127. Compounding felonies.

128. Compounding penal actions.

129. Advertising a reward for the return of stolen or lost property.

130. Delay to take person arrested before a court.

131. Bringing fictitious action on Penal Act, Law or Statute.

132. Inserting advertisement without authority of court.

133. Contempt of court.

CHAPTER 15 — Escapes; Rescues; obstructing officers of court

134. Rescue.

135. Escape.

136. Aiding prisoners to escape.

137. Permitting escape.

138. Negligently permitting escape.

139. Prison officers accessory to breaches of discipline.

140. (Repealed by 1972 No.9).

141. (Repealed by 1972 No.9).

142. (Repealed by 1972 No.9).

143. Rescuing insane persons.

144. Removing, etc., property under lawful seizure.

145. Obstructing officers of courts of justice.

CHAPTER 16 — Offences relating to the Currency

146. Interpretation.

147. Counterfeiting gold and silver coin.

148. Preparation for coining gold and silver coin.

148A. Unlawful inquiries with the object of making counterfeit coins.

149Clipping.

150. Possession of clippings.

151 Uttering counterfeit current gold or silver coin.

152. Repeated uttering of counterfeit current gold or silver coin, possession of several such coins

153. Offences after previous conviction.

154. Counterfeiting nickel coin.

155. Uttering base nickel coin.

156. Defacing coin by stamping words thereon.

157. Uttering foreign coin, medals, etc., as current coin with intent to defraud.

158. Exporting counterfeit current coin.

159. Unlawfully importing counterfeit coin.

160. Tender of defaced coin not legal tender: penalty for uttering.

160A. Making, issue and circulation of promissory notes payable to bearer on demand, without authority.

160B. Portrayal of Nigerian notes and coins.

CHAPTER 17 — Offences relating to Posts and Telecommunications

161. Stopping mails.

162. Intercepting telegrams or postal matter.

163. Tampering with telegrams or postal matter.

164. Wilful misdelivery of telegrams or postal matter.

165. Obtaining telegrams or postal matter by false pretences.

166. Secreting letters and telegrams.

167. Fraudulent issue of money orders and postal orders.

168. Fraudulent messages respecting money orders.

169. Unlawful franking of letters.

170. Sending dangerous or obscene things by post.

171. Retarding delivery of telegrams or postal matter.

172. Obstructing mails.

173. Penalty on loitering, carelessness in delivery of mails, etc.

174. Fraudulently removing stamps.

175. Fraudulent evasion of postal laws.

176. Carrying letters otherwise than by post.

177. Illegally making postal envelopes or setting up post office or office for sale of stamps, or imitating post office.

178. Destroying or damaging letter box.

179. Placing injurious substances in or against letter box.

180. Defacing post office or letter box.

181. Obstructing post and telegraph offices.

182. Obstructing post and telegraph officers in the execution of duty.

183. Contravening exclusive privilege of the Nigerian Postal Services Department.

184.(Deleted by 1975 No. 30).

185.(Deleted by 1975 No. 30).

186. Negligently injuring telegraphs.

187. Violation of secrecy.

188. Resisting officers.

189. Laying property in postal matter and telegraph works.

CHAPTER 18 — Miscellaneous offences against public authority

190. False declaration as to execution of sentence of death.

190. False statements in application for passports.

191 .False statements in statements required to be under oath or solemn declaration.

192. False declarations and statements.

193. Evidence.

194. Shooting at customs boats or officers.

195 Resisting officers engaged in preventing smuggling.

196. Resisting customs officers.

197. Resisting public officers.

198. Refusal by public officer to perform duty.

199. Neglect of peace officer to suppress riot.

200. Neglect to aid in suppressing riot.

201. Neglect to aid in arresting offenders.

202. Disobedience to Act, Law, or Statute.

203. Disobedience to lawful order issued by constituted authority.

PART 4 — Acts injurious to the public in general

CHAPTER 19 — Offences relating to religious worship

204. Insult to a religion.

205. Offering violence to officiating ministers of religion.

206. Disturbing religious worship.

CHAPTER 20 — Ordeal, Witchcraft, Juju and Criminal Charms

207. Unlawful trial by ordeal: prohibited juju.

208. Directing, etc., unlawful trial by ordeal.

209. Being present at, or making poison for, unlawful trial by ordeal.

210. Offences in relation to witchcraft and juju.

211. Chiefs permitting unlawful ordeal and prohibited juju worship.

212. Destruction of place where unlawful ordeal or prohibited juju worship is held.

213. Criminal charms.

CHAPTER 21 — Offences against Morality

214. Unnatural offences.

215. Attempt to commit unnatural offences.

216. Indecent treatment of boys under fourteen.

217. Indecent practices between males.

218. Defilement of girls under thirteen.

219. Householder permitting defilement of young girls on his premises.

220. Defence to charge under preceding section.

221. Defilement of girls under sixteen and above thirteen, and of idiots.

222. Indecent treatment of girls under sixteen.

222A. Causing or encouraging the seduction or prostitution of a girl under sixteen.

222B. Allowing persons under sixteen to be in brothels.

222C. Restriction on defence of reasonable belief.

223. Procuration.

224. Procuring defilement of woman by threats or fraud, or administering drugs.

225. Abduction of girl under eighteen with intent to have carnal knowledge.

225A. Persons trading in prostitution.

225B. Keeping a brothel.

226. Unlawful detention with intent to defile, or in a brothel.

227. Conspiracy to defile.

228. Attempts to procure abortion.

229. Attempt to procure own miscarriage.

230. Supplying drugs or instruments to procure abortion.

231. Indecent acts.

232. (Repealed by 1961 No. 51).

233. Knowledge of age immaterial.

233A. Deportation of non‐citizens of Nigeria.

CHAPTER 21A — Obscene Publications

233B. Interpretation.

233C. Test of obscenity.

233D. Prohibition of publication of obscene matter.

233E. Power of search and seizure.

233F. Defence of public good.

CHAPTER 22 — Nuisances; gaming houses; lotteries; misconduct relating to corpses

234. Common nuisance.

235. (Repealed by No. 20 of 1944).

236. (1) Gaming houses.

(2) Unlawful gaming.

237. (1) Police may be authorised to enter gaming houses, etc.

(2) Obstructing entry of police to be evidence of unlawful gaming.

238. Indemnity of witnesses.

239. Betting houses.

239A. Pool betting.

239B. (Inserted by 44 of 1958 repealed by 1961 No. 69).

240. Definitions: lottery: lottery ticket: public lottery.

240A. Offences relating to lotteries.

240B.Recovery of money paid for lottery tickets.

240C. Contract for sale of lottery ticket void.

240D. Saving of certain race club lotteries and sweepstakes.

240E.Lotteries carried on in clubs with approval of Minister.

241. Acting as keeper of brothels, gaming houses, and betting houses.

242. Misconduct with regard to corpses.

CHAPTER 23 — Offences against Public Health

243. (1) Exposing for sale things unfit for food or drink.

(2) Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale.

244. Dealing in diseased meat.

245. Fouling water.

246. Burials in houses.

247. Noxious acts.

248. Sale of matches made with white phosphorus: use of white phosphorus in manufacture of matches.

CHAPTER 24 — Idle and disorderly persons; Rogues and Vagabonds; bringing contempt on uniform

249. Idle and disorderly persons.

250. Rogues and vagabonds.

251. Bringing contempt on uniform.

PART 5 — Offence against the person and relating to Marriage and parental Rights and Duties, and against the reputation of individuals

CHAPTER 25

Assaults and violence to the person generally; justification and excuse

252. Definition of assault.

253. Assaults unlawful.

254. Execution of sentence.

255. Execution of process.

256. Execution of warrant.

257. Erroneous sentence or process or warrant.

258. Sentence or process or warrant without jurisdiction.

259. Arrest of wrong person.

260. Irregular process or warrant.

261. Force used in executing process or in arrest.

262.(Repealed by No. 43 of 1945).

263.(Repealed by No. 43 of 1945).

264.(Repealed by No. 43 of 1945).

265.(Repealed by No. 43 of 1945).

266.(Repealed by No. 43 of 1945).

267.(Repealed by No. 43 of 1945).

268.(Repealed by No. 43 of 1945).

269.(Repealed by No. 43 of 1945).

270.(Repealed by No. 43 of 1945).

271. Peace officer preventing escape from arrest.

272. Other cases of preventing escape from arrest.

273. Preventing escape or rescue after arrest.

274. (Repealed by No. 43 of 1945).

275. Preventing a breach of the peace.

276. Suppression of riot.

277. Suppression of riot by peace officers.

278. Suppression of riot by person acting under lawful orders.

279. Suppression of riot by person acting without order in case of emergency.

280. Riot: persons subject to military law or members of the police forces.

281. Prevention of offences for which an offender may be arrested without warrant: prevention of violence by persons of unsound mind.

282. Defence of dwelling‐house.

283. Provocation.

284. Defence of provocation.

285. Prevention of repetition of insult.

286. Self‐defence against unprovoked assault.

287. Self‐defence against provoked assault.

288. Aiding in self‐defence.

289. Defence of movable property against trespassers.

290. Defence of movable property with claim of right.

291. Defence of movable property without claim of right.

292. Defence of premises against trespassers: removal of disorderly persons.

293. Defence of possession of real property or vessel with claim of right.

294. Exercise of right of way or easement.

295. Correction of child, servant, etc.

296. Use of force for preserving order on board a vessel.

297. Surgical operations.

298. Excessive force.

299. Consent to death immaterial.

CHAPTER 26 —Duties relating to the preservation of human life

300. Duty to provide necessaries.

301. Duty of head of family.

302. Duty of masters.

303. Duty of persons doing dangerous acts.

304. Duty of persons in charge of dangerous things.

305. Duty to do certain acts.

305A. Breach of contract of person employed in certain services.

CHAPTER 27 — Homicide; Suicide; Infanticide; Concealment of Birth; Unlawful possession of Human Head

306. Killing of a human being unlawful.

307. When a child becomes a human being.

308. Definition of killing.

309. Death by acts done at childbirth.

310. Causing death by threats.

311. Acceleration of death.

312. When injury or death might be prevented by proper precaution.

313. Injury causing death in consequence of subsequent treatment.

314. Limitation as to time of death.

315. Unlawful homicide.

316. Definition of murder.

317. Definition of manslaughter.

318. Killing on provocation.

319. Punishment of murder: provision for juveniles: provision for pregnant women.

320. Attempt to murder.

321. Attempt to murder by convict.

322. Accessory after the fact to murder.

323. Written threats to murder.

324. Conspiring to murder.

325. Punishment of manslaughter.

326. Aiding suicide.

327. Attempting to commit suicide.

327A. Offence of infanticide.

328. Killing unborn child.

329. Concealing the birth of children.

329A.unlawful possession of human head.

CHAPTER 28 — Offences endangering life or health

330. Disabling in order to commit felony or misdemeanour.

331. Stupefying in order to commit felony or misdemeanour.

332. Acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent arrest.

333. Preventing escape from wreck.

334. Intentionally endangering safety of persons travelling by railway.

335. Grievous harm.

336. Attempting to injure by explosive substances.

337. Maliciously administering poison with intent to harm.

338. Wounding and similar acts.

339. Failure to supply necessaries.

340. Endangering life or health of apprentices or servants.

341. Abandoning or exposing children.

342. Setting man‐trap.

343. Reckless and negligent acts.

344. Negligent acts causing harm.

345. Sending unseaworthy ship to sea.

346. Endangering safety of person travelling by railway.

347. Endangering steamships by tampering with machinery.

348. The like by engineers.

349. Evading laws as to shipping dangerous goods.

350. Landing, etc., explosives.

CHAPTER 29 — Assaults

351. Punishment of assault.

352. Assault with intent to commit unnatural offence.

353. Indecent assault on males.

354. Assaults on persons protecting wrecks.

355. Assaults occasioning harm.

356. Serious assaults.

CHAPTER 30 — Assaults on females: abduction

357. Definition of rape.

358. Punishment of rape.

359. Attempt to commit rape.

360. Indecent assaults on females.

361. Abduction.

362. Abduction of girls under sixteen.

363. Ignorance of age of girl, or consent, no defence.

CHAPTER 31 — Offences against liberty: slave dealing

364. Kidnapping.

365. Deprivation of liberty.

366. Compelling action by intimidation.

367. Compelling action by assault.

368. Concealment of matters affecting liberty.

369. Slave dealing.

CHAPTER 32 — Offences relating to marriage and parental rights and duties

370. Bigamy.

371. Child‐stealing.

372. Desertion of children.

CHAPTER 33 — Defamation

373. Definition of defamatory matter.

374. Definition of publication.

375. Publication of defamatory matter.

376. Publishing defamatory matter with intent to extort.

377. Publication of truth for public benefit.

378. Cases in which publication is absolutely privileged.

379. Cases in which publication is conditionally privileged.

380. Publication in a periodical.

381. Protection of innocent sellers of books and newspapers.

PART 6 — Offences relating to property and contracts

DIVISION 1 — Stealing and like offences

CHAPTER 34 — Stealing

382. Things capable of being stolen.

383. Definition of stealing.

384. Special cases.

385. Funds, etc., held under direction.

386. Funds, etc., received by agents for sale.

387. Money received for another.

388. Stealing by persons having an interest in the thing stolen.

389. Husband and wife.

390. Punishment of stealing.

Punishment in special cases

(1) Stealing wills.

(2) Stealing postal matter, etc.

(3) Stealing cattle.

(4) Stealing from the person; stealing goods in transit, etc.

(5) Stealing by persons in public service.

(6) Stealing by clerks and servants.

(7) Stealing by directors or officers of companies.

(8) Stealing by agents, etc.

(9) Stealing property of value of N1,000.

(10) Stealing by tenants or lodgers.

(11) Stealing after previous conviction.

CHAPTER 35 — Offences analogous to stealing

391. Concealing registers.

392. Concealing wills.

393. Concealing deeds.

394. Killing animals with intent to steal.

395. Severing with intent to steal.

396. Fraudulently dealing with minerals in mines.

397. Bringing stolen goods into Nigeria.

398. Fraudulent disposition of mortgaged goods.

399. Definition of mortgaged goods; consent of mortgagee.

400. Fraudulent appropriation of power.

CHAPTER 36 — Stealing with violence: extortion by threats

401. Definition of robbery.

402. Punishment of robbery.

403. Punishment for attempted robbery, etc.

403A. Conspiracy to commit robbery.

403B. Definition of firearms and offensive weapons.

404. Public servants demanding property, etc.

405. Assault with intent to steal.

406. Demanding property with menaces with intent to steal.

407. Demanding property by written threats.

408. Attempts at extortion by threats.

409. Procuring execution of deeds, etc., by threats.

CHAPTER 37 — Burglary: housebreaking: and like offences

410. Definitions.

411. Housebreaking: burglary.

412. Entering dwelling‐house with intent to commit felony.

413. Breaking into building and committing felony.

414. Breaking into building with intent to commit felony.

415. Breaking into place of worship and committing felony.

416. Breaking into place of worship with intent to commit felony.

417. Persons found armed, etc., with intent to commit felony.

CHAPTER 38 — Obtaining property by false pretences: cheating

418. Definition.

419. Obtaining goods by false pretences.

419A. Obtaining credit by false pretences or other fraud.

419B. Presumption as to false pretences in certain circumstances.

420. Obtaining execution of a security by false pretences.

421. Cheating.

422. Conspiracy to defraud.

423. Frauds on sale or mortgage of property.

424. Pretending to exercise witchcraft or tell fortunes.

425. Obtaining registration, etc., by false pretences.

426.(Repealed by Ordinance No. 20 of 1955).

CHAPTER 39 — Receiving property stolen or fraudulently obtained and like offences

427. Receiving stolen property, etc.

428. Unlawful possession of arms, etc., belonging to Armed or Police Forces.

429. Receiving after change of ownership.

430. Having possession of thing reasonably suspected of having been stolen.

431. Unlawfully using animals or vehicles.

432. Suspicion of stealing animals.

433. Taking reward for recovery of property obtained by means of felony or misdemeanour.

CHAPTER 40 — Frauds by trustees and officers of companies and corporations: false accounting

434. Trustees fraudulently disposing of trust property.

435. Directors and officers of corporations or companies fraudulently appropriating property or keeping fraudulent accounts, or falsifying books or accounts.

436. False statements by officials of Companies.

437. Defence.

438. Fraudulent false accounting.

439. False accounting by public officer.

DIVISION 2 — Injuries to property

CHAPTER 41 — Definitions

440. Unlawful acts.

441. Acts done with intent to defraud.

442. Damage.

CHAPTER 42 — Offences

443. Arson.

444. Attempts to commit arson.

445. Setting fire to crops and growing plants.

446. Attempting to set fire to crops, etc.

447. Casting away ships.

448. Attempts to cast away ships.

449. Obstructing and injuring railways.

450. Injuring animals.

451. Malicious injuries in general.

Punishment in special cases

(1) Destroying or damaging an inhabited house or a vessel with explosives.

(2) River bank or wall, navigation works or bridges.

(3) Wills and registers.

(4) Wrecks.

(5) Railways.

(6) Other things of special value.

(7) Deeds and records.

452. Attempts to destroy property by explosives.

453. Attempts to injure mines.

454. lnterfering with signals used for purposes of navigation.

455. Interfering with navigation works.

456. Communicating infectious diseases to animals.

457. Removing boundary marks with intent to defraud.

458. Wilful damage, etc., to survey and boundary marks.

459. Obstructing railways.

459A. Obstructing aircraft.

459B. Trespass on aerodrome.

460. Penalties for damage, etc., to railway works.

461. Sending letters threatening to burn or destroy.

462. Arrest without warrant.

DIVISION 3 — Forgery and like offences:

Personation

CHAPTER 43 — Forgery in general

Definitions

463. Definitions.

464. Further definitions.

465. Definition of forgery.

466. Certain matters immaterial.

CHAPTER 44 — Punishment of forgery and like offences

467. Punishment of forgery in general.

Punishment in special cases

(1)     Public seals, etc.

(2)     Securities, titles, registers, etc.

(3)     Documents relating to revenue and acts of State, etc.

(4)     Court seals, records, process, evidence, etc.

(5)     Telegrams.

468. Uttering false documents and counterfeit seals.

469. Uttering cancelled or exhausted documents.

470. Uttering cancelled stamps.

471. Procuring execution of documents by false pretences.

472. Obliterating crossings on cheques.

473. Making documents without authority.

474. Demanding property upon forged testamentary instruments.

475. Purchasing forged bank notes.

476. Falsifying warrants for money payable under public authority.

477. Falsification of register.

478. Sending false certificate of marriage to registrar.

479. False statements for the purpose of registers of births, deaths and marriages.

CHAPTER 45 — Preparation for forgery

480. Instruments and materials for forgery.

480A. Unlawful inquiries relating to the possibility of forgery.

481. Counterfeit stamps.

482. Paper for postal purposes.

483. Paper and dies for postage stamps.

CHAPTER 46 —Personation

484. Personation in general.

485. Falsely acknowledging deeds, recognisances, etc.

486. Personation of a person named in a certificate.

487. Lending, etc., certificate for personation.

488. Personation of person named in a testimonial or character.

489. Lending, etc., testimonial for personation.

DIVISION 4 — Offences connected with trade and breach of contract

CHAPTER 47 — Fraudulent debtors

490. Fraudulent dealing with property by debtors.

CHAPTER 48 — Offences in relation to copyright

491.   Making or dealing in infringing copies of copyright work.

492.   Being in possession of plate for making infringing copies: giving unauthorised performances of copyright work.

493.   Forfeiture of copies or plates.

CHAPTER 49 — Secret commissions and corrupt practices

494.(1)(a)   Corrupt acceptance of gift.

  (b)   Corrupt gift to agent.

  (c)   Gift to agent of receipt, etc., with intent to mislead principal.

PART 7 — Miscellaneous offences

CHAPTER 50 — Cruelty to animals

495. Offences of cruelty.

496. Court may order destruction of animal.

497. Court may deprive person of ownership.

498. Power of police to take charge of animal or vehicle.

499. Definitions.

CHAPTER 51 — Miscellaneous offences in relation to ships and wharves

500. Interpretation.

501. Offences in relation to ships.

502. Entering ship or wharf without ticket.

503. Power to exclude drunken person from ship.

504. jurisdiction.

CHAPTER 52 — Offences by members of a crew

505. Interpretation.

506. Obligation to complete voyage.

507. Offences by members of a crew.

PART 8 — Preparation to commit offences

Conspiracy: accessories after the fact

CHAPTER 53 — Attempts, incitements, and preparations to commit offences

Neglect to prevent commission of felony

508. Attempts to commit offences.

509. Punishment of attempts to commit felonies.

510. Punishment of attempts to commit misdemeanours.

511. Punishment of attempts to commit simple offences.

512. Reduction of punishment.

513. Attempts to procure commission of criminal acts.

514. Preparation to commit crimes with explosives, etc.

515. Neglect to prevent felony.

CHAPTER 54 — Conspiracy

516.   Conspiracy to commit felony.

516A. Conspiracy to commit felony against law of a State.

517.   Conspiracy to commit offence.

517 A. Conspiracy to commit offence against law of a State.

518.   Other conspiracies.

518A. Conspiracy in trade dispute.

CHAPTER 55 —  Accessories after the fact

519.   Accessories after the fact to felonies.

520.   Accessories after the fact to misdemeanours.

521.   Accessories after the fact to simple offences.

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CRIMINAL CODE ACT

An Act to establish a code of criminal law.

[F & L. 1958. Cap. 42. 44 of 1958.25 of 1960.30 of 1960.49 of 1960. 1961 No. 51. 1961 No. 69. 1966 No. 44. 1966 No. 84. 1967 No.2. 1969 No. 26. Cap. 85. 1971 No. 20. 1972 No.9. L.N. 148 of 1959. L.N. 257 of 1959. L.N. 258 of 1959. L.N. 22 of 1960. L.N. 15 of 1960. L.N. 112 of 1964. L.N. 139 of 1965.]

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[Commencement.]                                                          [1st June, 1916]

ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO THE LAWS OF NIGERIA (UPDATED TO 2018)