#OBSCURELEGALFACTS by Arome Abu
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/idrinstitute.png")
OFFENCE OF WITCHCRAFT PRACTICE UNDER THE NIGERIAN LAW.
In Nigeria, any person who by his statements or actions represents himself to be a witch or to have the power of witchcraft; is guilty of an offence.
PENALTY
Imprisonment for 2 years
SEE SECTION 216 & 210 Criminal and Penal Codes Act respectively.
From the tenor of the Act, it can be inferred that a person is not guilty based on mere accusation of being a witch as it is commonplace in Africa. He must by his statement or action admit to having powers of witchcraft.
In the case of SUSAN EDEH V. COP
In Bauchi State, on July 21, 2011 two individuals were brought before the Bauchi State Chief Magistrate’s Court on witchcraft charges.
The prosecution’s case was that the accused held a victim in captive by witchcraft for the last four years.
The Accused persons had confessed to taking away the spirit of the victim and giving it to a co-defendant.
This codefendant, in his testimony corroborated this confession by stating he refused to give the spirit back because he had received it as a payment for a debt the other codefendant owed him.
https://www.loc.gov/law/foreign-news/article/nigeria-bauchi-state-prosecuting-two-on-witchcraft-charges/
Practicing witchcraft or possession of juju is a crime under Section 216 Penal Code Law of Bauchi State.
The misconception that the law does not recognize the offence of Witchcraft is common amongst lawyers and the laity. Nigerian law recognizes and penalizes the offence of Witchcraft. What the law does not recognize is the “Defence” of witchcraft as basis for killing a person accused of being a witch.
The following authorities are united on this position:
(1) IHONRE V. THE STATE (1987) NWLR (Pt. 67)778
(2) Muyibi Oshinaike v. The State (1984) 10 S.C. 89 at pp. 90-91.
(3) Thamu Guyuk v. Rex 14 W.A.C.A. 353 at p.372.
(4) R. v. Konkomba 14 W.A.C.A. 236.
Arome Abu is the Managing Partner of Abu & Olaniyan Partners.
CAVEAT: Note that this information is provided for general enlightenment purposes and is not intended to be any form of legal advice.
Obscure Legal Facts is an exclusive daily publication of Abu & Olaniyan Partners.
Plot 108 Idris Gidado Way, Wuye, Abuja.
abuandolaniyanpartners@gmail.com
+234 803 262 2359
+234 708 1156 539.
Twitter: @abu_olaniyanLP
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
______________________________________________________________________
Explore Nigeria’s Constitutional System — 17 Chapters, 924 Pages Of Insight By Prof. Hagler Sunny Okorie
A timely new publication, Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria, co-authored by Olumide Babalola and Uchenna Nnawuchi, 📘 Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria is now available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8TmFZrd
______________________________________________________________________
The books are available for purchase at:
Online: www.educodex.com | www.selar.com | www.amazon.com | www.mikeozekhome.com
Enquiries: +234 704 044 9375 | +234 814 813 4773 | +234 816 872 3532
Email: educodexl@gmail.com
______________________________________________________________________
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
