Section 17,18,19,20,21 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act
Section 17 to 21 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act is under Chapter 4 of the Act, and titled ‘Punishments‘.
Section 17 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act
Kinds of punishments
Subject to the provisions of any other written law, the punishments which may be inflicted under this
Code are death, imprisonment, caning, fine and forfeiture.
[1960 No. 30.]
Section 18 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act
Caning for male persons under seventeen
Whenever a male person who, in the opinion of the court, has not attained seventeen years of age, has
been found guilty of any offence the court may, in its discretion, order him to be caned in addition to or
in substitution for any other punishments to which he is liable.
Section 19 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act
Forfeiture of bribes
When any person is convicted of an offence under section 98, 98A, 98B, 99, 112, 117, 126, 128 or 494 of
this Code, the court may, in addition to or in lieu of any penalty which may be imposed, order the
forfeiture to the State of any property which has passed in connection with the commission of the
offence or, if such property cannot be forfeited or cannot be found, of such sum as the court shall assess
as the value of such property, and any property or sum so forfeited shall be dealt with in such manner as
the Governor may direct. Payment of any sum so ordered to be forfeited may be enforced in the same
manner and subject to the same incidents as in the case of the payment of a fine.
[1960 No. 30. 1966 No. 84. 1960 No. 30. L.N. 112 of 1964.]
Section 20 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act
Forfeiture of property used in postal offences
When any person is convicted of an offence under section 170, 175, 177, 179, 180 or 183 of this Code,
the court may, in addition to or in lieu of any penalty which may be imposed, order the forfeiture of any
personal property which has been used in the commission of the offence or in respect of which the
offence has been committed and may order such property to be destroyed or otherwise dealt with as to
it may seem fit.
Section 21 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act
Prerogative
Nothing in this Code affects the prerogative of mercy where exercised in accordance with the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
[L.N. 112 of 1964. Cap. C23.]
