SECTION
1. Short title.
- Interpretation.
- Application of provisions of Schedule as Law of Northern States.
- Punishment of offences in Schedule committed in Northern States.
- Circumstances in which provisions of Schedule apply.
- Repeal of Cap. C38 in Northern States.
SCHEDULE
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
CHAPTER XXVI
Offences against the State
SECTION
- Treason.
- Punishment for treason.
- Treasonable crimes.
- Inciting to mutiny.
- Causing disaffection among soldiers, police or prison officers.
- Assisting or allowing escape of prisoners of war.
CHAPTER XXVII
Sedition
- Inciting disaffection to the Government.
- Exciting hatred between classes.
- Publication of false news with intent to cause offence against the public peace.
- Possession of seditious articles.
- Power to prohibit importation of publications.
- Punishment for importation of prohibited publications.
- Unlawful drilling.
CHAPTER XXVIII
Customs offences
- Smuggling or rescuing goods under arms.
- Smuggling under arms or in disguise.
- Assembling for the purpose of smuggling.
CHAPTER XXIX
Offences relating to copyright
SECTION
- Making or dealing in copies of copyright work.
- Being in possession of plate for making copies: giving unauthorised performances of copy-
right work.
CHAPTER XXX
Offences relating to ships and wharves
- Definitions.
- Offences relating to ships.
- Entering ship or wharf without ticket.
- Interfering with navigation works.
CHAPTER XXXI
Offences relating to coin and notes
- Coin and note defined.
- Counterfeiting coin or notes.
- Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting coin or notes.
- Possession of instrument or material for counterfeiting.
- Import or export of counterfeit coin or notes.
- Fraudulently diminishing weight or altering composition of coin.
- Delivery of coin or note possessed with knowledge that it is counterfeit.
- Possession of coin or note by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he became pos-
sessed thereof.
CHAPTER XXXII
Offences relating to revenue stamps
- Revenue stamp defined.
- Counterfeiting revenue stamp.
- Having possession of instrument or material for counterfeiting revenue stamp.
- Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting revenue stamp.
- Import, export, use or sale of counterfeit revenue stamps.
- Having possession of counterfeit revenue stamp.
- Effacing writing from substance bearing revenue stamp, or removing from document a
stamp used for it, with intent to cause loss. - Using revenue stamp known to have been used before.
- Erasure of mark denoting that revenue stamp has been used.
CHAPTER XXXIII
Offences relating to weights and measures
449. Fraudulent use of false instrument for weighing.
SECTION
- Fraudulent use of false weight or measure.
- Being in possession of false weight or measure.
- Making or selling false weight or measure.
CHAPTER XXXIV
Offences relating to posts and telecommunications
- Definitions.
- Paper and dies for postage stamps.
- Paper for postal purposes.
- Stopping mails.
- Intercepting telegrams or postal matter.
- Misdelivery of postal matter.
- Retarding delivery of postal matter.
- Fraudulently removing stamps.
- Fraudulent evasion of postal laws.
- Unlawful franking of letters.
- Sending dangerous or obscene things by post.
- Illegally setting up of post office.
- Damaging post office, etc.
- Placing injurious substances in or against letter box.
- Interference with telecommunications.
- Negligently injuring telecommunications.
CHAPTER XXXV
Offences relating to railways and aircraft
- Intentionally endangering safety of persons travelling by railway.
- Obstructing and injuring railways.
- Damage to railway works.
- Obstructing aircraft.
- Trespass on aerodrome.
CHAPTER XXXVI
Offences relating to mines and minerals
- Fraudulently dealing with minerals in mines.
- Attempt to injure mines.
CHAPTER XXXVII
Deportation and passports
- Deportation of non-citizens of Nigeria.
- False statements in application for passports.
CHAPTER P3
PENAL CODE (NORTHERN STATES) FEDERAL PROVISIONS ACT
An Act to supplement the Penal Code of the Northern States in respect of matters
within the exclusive legislative competence of the National Assembly, and for
purposes ancillary thereto.
[1960 No. 25.]
[30th September, 1960]
[Commencement.]
- Short title
This Act may be cited as the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act.
- Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
"Northern States" means the States of Nigeria formerly known as Northern Region
of Nigeria.
- Application of provisions of Schedule as Law of Northern States
(1) The provisions contained in the Schedule to this Act shall apply in respect of the
Northern States and shall be read as the law of that territory and as such form part of the
Penal Code contained in the Schedule to the Penal Code Law, 1959, of the Northern
States (hereinafter referred to as the Penal Code of the Northern States).
[Schedule.]
(2) The provisions of Chapter I to Chapter VI of the Penal Code of the Northern
States, shall apply in respect of the provisions of the Schedule to this Act as fully as
though the provisions of such Chapters were enacted in this Act.
- Punishment of offences in Schedule committed in Northern States
Every person shall be liable to punishment under the provisions of section 3 of this
Act and of the Schedule to this Act for every act or omission contrary to the provisions of
the Schedule to this Act of which he is guilty within the Northern States:
Provided that a sentence of caning shall not be passed in accordance with sec-
tion 77 of the Penal Code of the Northern States except in a case where a sentence of
whipping could have been passed in accordance with section 18 of the Criminal Code or
section 387 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
[Cap. C38. Cap. C41.]
- Circumstances in which provisions of Schedule apply
(1) Where by the provisions contained in the Schedule to this Act, the doing of any
act or the making of an omission is made an offence, those provisions shall apply to
every person who is in the territory at the time of his doing the act or making the omis-
sion.
[Schedule.]
(2) Where any such offence comprises several elements and any acts, omissions or
events occur which, if they all occurred in the Northern States would constitute an of-
fence, and any of such acts, omissions or events occur in the Northern States, although
the other acts, omissions or events, which if they occurred in the Northern States would
be elements of the offence, occur elsewhere than in the Northern States then-
(a) if the act or omission, which in the case of an offence committed wholly in the
Northern States would be the initial element of the offence, occurs in the
Northern States, the person who does that act or makes that omission is guilty
of an offence of the same kind and is liable to the same punishment as if all the
subsequent elements of the offence occurred in the Northern State; and
(b) if that act or omission occurs elsewhere than in the Northern States and the
person who does that act or makes that omission afterwards enters the North-
ern States, he is by such entry guilty of an offence of the same kind and is li-
able to the same punishment, as if that act or omission had occurred in the
Northern States and he had been in the Northern States when it occurred.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section it shall be a de-
fence to the charge in any such case to prove that the person accused did not intend that
the act or omission should have effect in the Northern States.
(4) The provisions of subsection (2) of this section shall not extend to a case in which
the only material event that occurs in the Northern States is the death of a person whose
death is caused by an act or omission at a place outside, and at a time when that person
was outside, the Northern States.
- Repeal of Cap. C38 in Northern States
The Criminal Code Act, in so far as it has effect as if it were a law enacted by the
Legislature of the Federation and as it applies in the Northern States, is repealed:
Provided that such repeal shall not, in respect of proceedings taken outside the
Northern States, affect the operation of the Criminal Code solely because some element
or elements of the offence are alleged to have occurred within the Northern States.
SCHEDULE
[Section 3.]
CHAPTER XXVI
Offences against the State
*410. Treason
(1) Whoever levies war against the State, in order to intimidate or overawe the Presi-
dent, commits treason.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prevent any act from being treason which is so by the
law of England as in force in Nigeria.
*The numbering is consecutive with that of the Penal Code of the Northern State.
Whoever commits treason shall be punished with death, and whoever attempts or abets
treason shall be punished with imprisonment for life or for any less term or with fine or with
both.
412. Treasonable crimes
(1) Whoever intends-
[L.N. 139 of 1965.]
(a) to remove otherwise than by constitutional means during his term or office-
(i) the President of the Federal Republic; or
(ii) the Governor of any State of the Federal Republic;
(b) to levy war against Nigeria or any part of the Federation in order by force or
constraint to compel the President or the Governor of a State as the case may
be, to change his measures or counsels, or in order to put any force or con-
straint upon or to intimidate or overawe either House of the National Assembly
or, as the case may be, the House of Assembly of a State; or
(c) to instigate any person not a national of Nigeria to make an armed invasion of
Nigeria or any part thereof,
and manifests such intention by an overt act, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or
any less term and shall also be liable to fine.
(2) A person charged with any of the offences specified in this section is not entitled to
be acquitted on the ground that any act proved to have been committed by him constitutes the
offence of treason; but a person who has been tried, and convicted or acquitted, on a charge of
any such offence cannot be afterwards prosecuted for treason in respect of the same facts.
413. Inciting to mutiny
Whoever-
(a) seduces any person serving in the armed forces or the police force from his
duty of allegiance to the State;
(b) incites any such person to commit an act of mutiny,
shall be punished with imprisonment for life or for any less term and also be liable to fine.
[L.N. 193 of 1965.]
414. Causing disaffection among soldiers, police or prison officers
(1) Whoever causes or does any act calculated to cause disaffection amongst persons
serving as-
(a) members of the armed forces of Nigeria; or
(b) police officers; or
(c) prison officers,
or does any act calculated to induce any person serving as aforesaid to withhold his services or
to commit breaches of discipline, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to
three years or with fine which may extend to N600 or with both.
(2) For the purposes of this section the expression "prison officer" shall have the same
meaning as in subsection (1) of section 19 of the Prisons Act.
415. Assisting or allowing escape of prisoners of war
Whoever intentionally aids an enemy of the State, being a prisoner of war in Nigeria,
whether such prisoner is confined in prison or elsewhere, or is suffered to be at large on his
parole, to escape from his prison or place of confinement, or if he is at large on his parole, to
escape from Nigeria, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or for any less term and
shall also be liable to fine, and whoever negligently or unlawfully permits the escape of any
such prisoner shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years or with
fine or with both.
[L.N. 139 of 1965.]
CHAPTER XXVII
Sedition
416. Inciting disaffection to the Government
Whoever by words, either spoken or reproduced by mechanical means or intended to be
read, or by signs or by visible representation or otherwise excites or attempts to excite feelings
of disaffection against the person of the President or the Governor of a State, or against the
Government, or the Constitution, or any State thereof or against the administration of justice
in Nigeria or any State thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to seven years or with fine or with both.
Explanation 1 - The expression "disaffection" includes disloyalty and all feelings of en-
mity.
Explanation 2 - Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures of the Govern-
ment of the Federation or of any State Government of Nigeria with a view to obtaining their
alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or dis-
affection, do not constitute an offence under this section.
Explanation 3 - Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other ac-
tion of the Government of the Federation or any State Government of Nigeria without exciting
or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this
section.
417. Exciting hatred between classes
Whoever, seeks to excite hatred or contempt against any class of persons in such a way
as to endanger the public peace, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to three years or with fine or with both.
418. Publication of false news with intent to cause offence against the public peace
Whoever circulates, publishes or reproduces any statement, rumour or report which he
knows or has reason to believe to be false with intent to cause or which is likely to cause fear
or alarm to the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the
public peace, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with
fine or with both.
419. Possession of seditious articles
Whoever has in his possession without lawful excuse, the proof of which shall lie on
him, any book, pamphlet, paper, gramophone record, tape recording, drawing, printing, pho-
tograph, cinema film or other visible or audible representation or reproduction, the publication
or exhibition of which would constitute an offence under section 416, 417 or 418 of this
Chapter, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or
with fine or with both.
420. Power to prohibit importation of publications
(1) The Minister charged with responsibility for such matters may, if he is of opinion
that the importation or any publication would be contrary to the public interest, by order pro-
hibit the importation of such publication.
(2) If such Minister is of opinion that it would be in the public interest to do so he may
by order prohibit the importation of all publications published by or on behalf of any organi-
sation or association of persons specified in the order.
(3) An order made under the provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall, unless a
contrary intention in expressed therein, have effect-
(a) with respect to all subsequent issues of such publication; and
(b) not only with respect to any publication under the name specified in relation
thereto in the order, but also with respect to any publication published under
any other name if the publishing thereof is in any respect in continuation of, or
in substitution for, the publishing of the publication named in the order.
(4) An order made under the provisions of subsection (2) of this section shall, unless a
contrary intention is expressed therein, have effect not only with respect to all publications
published by or on behalf of the organisation or association of persons named therein before
the date of the order but also with respect to all publications so published on or after such
date.
(5) An order made under the provisions of subsection (1) or (2) of this section shall, un-
less a contrary intention is expressed therein, apply to any translation into any language what-
soever of the publication specified in the order.
421. Punishment for importation of prohibited publications
Whoever intentionally imports, publishes, sells, distributes or reproduces or has in his
possession any publication the importation of which has been prohibited under section 420 of
this Chapter or any extract therefrom, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend
to three years or with fine or with both.
422. Unlawful drilling
Whoever without the permission of the President, instigates, practises, takes part in or is
concerned in any exercise, movement, evolution or drill of a military nature shall be punished
with imprisonment which may extend to seven years or with fine or with both.
[L.N. 139 of 1965.]
CHAPTER XXXVIII
Customs offences
423. Smuggling or rescuing goods under arms
Whoever assembles with two or more persons armed with any dangerous weapon for any
of the following purposes-
(a) to unlawfully ship, unship, load, move or carry away any goods the importation
of which is prohibited, or any goods liable to customs duties, which duties have
not been paid or secured;
(b) to rescue or take any such goods from any person authorised to seize them, or
from any person employed by that person, or assisting that person,
shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to seven years or with fine or with
both.
424. Smuggling under arms or in disguise
Whoever assembles with five or more persons who have with them any goods liable to
forfeiture under any law relating to the customs, and who are carrying dangerous weapons, or
who are disguised shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to seven years or
with fine or with both.
425. Assembling for the purpose of smuggling
Whoever assembles with two or more persons for the purpose of shipping, carrying, or
concealing any goods subject to customs duty and liable to forfeiture under any law relating to
the customs shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with
fine which may extend to N 200.
CHAPTER XXIX
Offences relating to copyright
426. Making or dealing in copies of copyright work
Whoever intentionally-
(a) makes for sale or hire any copy of a work which infringes a copyright; or
(b) sells or lets for hire any copy of any such work; or
(c) distributes copies of any such work for the purposes of trade or to such an ex-
tend as to affect prejudicially the owner of the copyright; or
(d) by way of trade exhibits in public any copy of any such work,
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine
which may extend to N 1,000 or with both.
427. Being in possession of plate for making copies: giving unauthorised performances
of copyright work
Whoever intentionally makes or possesses any plate for the purpose of making copies of
any work which infringes a copyright, or intentionally and for profit causes any such work to
be performed in public without the consent of the owner of the copyright shall be punished
with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine which may extend
to N 1,000.
CHAPTER XXX
Offences relating to ships and wharves
428. Definitions
In this Chapter-
"crew" includes masters, mates, pilots, engineers, stokers, deckhands and all persons en-
gaged in the navigation or service of a ship;
"passenger steamer" means every steamship carrying one or more persons other than the
crew, and the owner, his family, friends and servants;
"ship" includes every description of vessel in the service of the Government or the Gov-
ernment of the Federation and every passenger steamer employed in local navigation on the
inland and territorial waters of Nigeria, but does not include ocean going ships not in the
service of the Government of the Federation or vessels or canoes of native manufacture.
429. Offences relating to ships
(1) Whoever-
(a) obstructs any member of the crew in the navigation or management of a ship;
(b) after having been refused admission to a ship by any authorised member of the
crew on account of the ship being full, attempts to enter the ship;
(c) having gone on board the ship at any place and being requested, on account of
the ship being full, by any duly authorised member of the crew to leave the
ship, before it has quilted that place, does not comply with that
(d) travels in a ship without first paying his fare and with intent to avoid payment;
(e) being on board a ship fails when requested by an authorised member of the
crew to pay his fare or exhibit the ticket or other receipt, if any, showing the
payment of his fare;
(f) travels in that part of a ship which is set apart for passengers of a superior class
to that for which he holds a ticket;
(g) travels in any ship or part of a ship which is not set apart for public passengers
and on being ordered by any authorised member of the crew to leave such
place refuses to do,shall be punished with a fine which may extend to N 10.
(2) Whoever commits an offence under subsection (1) of this section and on the appli-
cation of the officer in charge of the ship, refuses to give his name and address, or gives a
false name or address, shall be punished with a fine which may extend to N 40.
430. Entering ship or wharf without ticket
Whoever not being a passenger by a ship or not having purchased a ticket to travel by a
ship enters upon any enclosed quay, wharf, or landing place and on being ordered to leave
such quay, wharf, or landing place by any public servant acting in the course of his duty re-
fuses to do so shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to one month or with
fine or with both.
431. Interfering with navigation works
Whoever intentionally and unlawfully-
(a) removes or disturbs any fixed objects or materials used for securing a bank or
wall of a river, canal, aqueduct, reservoir or inland water, or for securing any
work which appertains to a dock, canal, aqueduct, reservoir or inland water, or
which is used for purposes of navigation or lading or unlading goods; or
(b) does any act which obstructs the carrying on or maintenance of the navigation
of a navigable river or canal,
shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to seven years or with tine or with
both.
CHAPTER XXXI
Offences relating to coin and notes
432. Coin and note defined
(1) Coin is metal used for the time being as money and stamped and issued by or under
the authority of the Government of the Federation in order to be so used.
(2) For the purposes of this chapter the word "note" includes every currency note issued
by or under the authority of the Government of the Federation and intended to be used as
equivalent to or as a substitute for money and bank note which is legally current in any coun-
try.
433. Counterfeiting coin or notes
Whoever counterfeits or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting
any coin or note shall be punished with imprisonment for life or any less term and shall also
be liable to fine.
Explanation - A person commits this offence who, intending to practise deception or
knowing it to be likely that deception will thereby be practised, causes a genuine coin or note
to appear like a different coin or note.
434. Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting coin or notes
Whoever makes or mends or performs any part of the process of making or mending or
buys, sells or disposes of any die or instrument for the purpose of being used or knowing or
having reason to believe that it is intended to be used for the purpose of counterfeiting coin or
notes shall be punished with imprisonment for life or for any less term and shall also be liable
to fine.
435. Possession of instrument or material for counterfeiting
Whoever is in possession of any instrument or material for the purpose of using the same
for counterfeiting coin or notes or knowing or having reason to believe that the same is in-
tended to be used for that purpose shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to
fourteen years or with fine or with both.
436. Import or export of counterfeit coin or notes
Whoever imports into Nigeria or exports there from any counterfeit coin or note knowing
or having reason to believe that the same is counterfeit, shall be punished with imprisonment
for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine.
437. Fraudulently diminishing weight or altering composition of coin
Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly performs on any coin any operation which dimin-
ishes the weight or alters the composition of that coin, shall be punished with imprisonment
for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation - A person who scoops out part of a coin and puts anything else into the
cavity alters the composition of that coin.
438. Delivery of coin or note possessed with knowledge that it is counterfeit
Whoever, having in his possession any counterfeit coin or note or any coin with respect
to which an offence under section 437 of this Chapter has been committed and having known
at the time when he became possessed of such coin or note that such coin or note was counter-
feit or that such offence had been committed with respect to such coin, fraudulently or with
intent that fraud may be committed delivers such coin or note to any other person or attempts
to induce any other person to receive the same, shall be punished with imprisonment for a
term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.
439. Possession of coin or note by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he became possessed thereof
Whoever fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed is in possession of any
counterfeit coin or note or of any coin with respect to which an offence under section 437 of
this Chapter has been committed having known at the time of becoming possessed thereof that
such coin or note was counterfeit or that such offence had been committed with respect to
such coin, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years
and shall also be liable to fine.
CHAPTER XXXII
Offences relating to revenue stamps
440. Revenue stamp defined
For the purposes of this chapter the words "revenue stamp" mean a stamp issued by or
under the authority of any government for postal or other revenue purposes.
441. Counterfeiting revenue stamp
Whoever counterfeits or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting
any revenue stamp, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to
seven years and shall also be liable to tine.
Explanation - A person commits this offence who counterfeits by causing a genuine
revenue stamp of one denomination to appear like a genuine revenue stamp of a different de-
nomination.
442. Having possession of instrument or material for counterfeiting revenue stamp
Whoever has in his possession any instrument or material for the purpose of being used
or knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used for the purpose of coun-
terfeiting any revenue stamp, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may ex-
tend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine.
443. Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting revenue stamp
Whoever makes or performs any part of the process of making or buys or sells or dis-
poses of any instrument for the purpose of being used or knowing or having reason to believe
that it is intended to be used for the purpose of counterfeiting any revenue stamp, shall be
punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be
liable to fine.
444. Import, export, use or sale of counterfeit revenue stamps
Whoever imports into Nigeria or exports therefrom or uses as genuine or sells or offers
for sale any stamp which he knows or has reason to believe to be a counterfeit of any revenue
stamp, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and
shall also be liable to fine.
445. Having possession of counterfeit revenue stamp
Whoever has in his possession any stamp which he knows to be a counterfeit of any
revenue stamp intending to use or dispose of the same as a genuine revenue stamp or in order
that it may be used as a genuine revenue stamp, shall be punished with imprisonment for a
term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.
446. Effacing writing from substance bearing revenue stamp, or removing from docu-
ment a stamp used for it, with intent to cause loss
Whoever fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to any government removes or effaces
from any substance bearing any revenue stamp any writing or document for which such reve-
nue stamp has been used or removes from any writing or document a revenue stamp which
has been used for such writing or document in order that such revenue stamp may be used for
a different writing or document, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to three years or with fine or with both.
447. Using revenue stamp known to have been used before
Whoever fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to any government uses for any pur-
pose any revenue stamp which he knows to have been used before, shall be punished with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both.
448. Erasure of mark denoting that revenue stamp has been used
Whoever fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to any government erases or removes
from any revenue stamp any mark put or impressed upon such revenue stamp for the purpose
of denoting that the same has been used or knowingly has in his possession or sells or dis-
poses of any such revenue stamp which he knows to have been used, shall be punished with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.
CHAPTER XXXIII
Offences relating to weights and measures
449. Fraudulent use of false instrument for weighting
Whoever fraudulently uses any instrument for weighing which he knows to be false,
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or
with both.
450. Fraudulent use of false weight or measure
Whoever fraudulently uses any false weight or false measure of length or capacity or
fraudulently uses any weight or any measure of length or capacity as a different weight or
measure from what it is, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to
one year or with fine or with both.
451. Being in possession of false weight or measure
Whoever is in possession of any instrument for weighing or of any weight or of any
measure of length or capacity which he knows to be false and intending that the same may be
fraudulently used, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one
year or with fine or with both.
452. Making or selling false weight or measure
Whoever makes, sells or disposes of any instrument for weighing or any weight or any
measure of length or capacity which he knows to be false in order that the same may be used
as true or knowing that the same is likely to be used as true, shall be punished with imprison-
ment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.
CHAPTER XXXIV
Offences relating to posts and telecommunications
453. Definitions
In this Chapter-
"mail" includes any conveyance of any kind by which postal matter is carried, and also
any vessels employed by or under the Nigerian Postal Services Department, or the postal
authority of any other country, or the Admiralty, for the conveyance of postal matter, under
contract or not, and also a ship of war or other vessel in the service of the State in respect of
letters conveyed by it and also a person or animal used for the conveyance or delivery of
postal matter;
[L.N. 139 of 1965.]
"postal matter" includes any letter, telegram, newspaper, packet, parcel, or other thing,
authorised by law to be transmitted by post, which has been posted or received at a post office
for delivery or transmission by post, and which is in course of transmission by post and any
movable receptacle which contains any such thing, and which is in course or transmission by
post;
"post office" and "telegraph office" respectively, include any structure, room, place or receptacle or any kind appointed by authority of the Postmaster-General for the receipt, des-
patch or delivery, of any postal matter or telegram, or for the transaction of the business of the
department relating to posts and telegraphs; and
"telegraph office" includes any room or places used by a telegraph company for the re-
ceipt, despatch or delivery of telegrams.
454. Paper and dies for postage stamps
Whoever without lawful authority, the proof of which lies on him-
(a) makes, or begins or prepares to make, or uses for any postal purpose, or has in
his possession or disposes of any imitation or representation on paper or any
other material, or any stamp used for denoting any rate or postage of Nigeria,
or any other country; or
(b) make or mends, or begins or prepares to make or mend, or uses, or has in his
possession or disposes of, any die, plate, instrument or material, for making
any such imitation or representation,
shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine which may
extend to N 100 or with both.
Explanation - A stamp purporting to denote a rate of postage of any country is to be
taken to be a stamp used for postal purposes in that country until the contrary is shown.
455. Paper for postal purposes
Whoever without lawful authority, the proof of which lies on him, knowingly has in his
possession or disposes of any paper which has been specially provided by the proper authority
for the purposes of being used for postage stamps, money orders, or postal orders, before such
paper has been lawful issued for public use, shall be punished with imprisonment which may
extend to two years or with fine or with both.
456. Stopping mails
Whoever stops a mail with intent to carry out an unlawful search or to commit theft of
postal matter shall be punished with imprisonment for life or any less term or with fine or with
both.
457. Intercepting telegrams or postal matter
Whoever unlawfully secretes, destroys, tampers with or obtains by cheating any postal
matter shall be punished-
(a) with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or with fine or
with both; and
(b) if the postal matter so secreted or destroyed shall contain any money or chattel
or any valuable security, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or any
less term and shall also be liable to fine.
458. Misdelivery of postal matters
Whoever being a public servant charged by virtue of his employment with the delivery
of any postal matter intentionally delivers it to a person other than the person to whom it is
addressed or to his authorised agent shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to three years or with fine or with both.
459. Retarding delivery of postal matter
Whoever being a public servant charged with the handling of postal matter-
[L.N. 139 of l965.]
(a) neglects or refuses to receive, despatch, deliver or convey postal matter;
(b) intentionally detains or delays any postal matter;
(c) without proper authority allows any postal matter out of his possession;
(d) is guilty of any neglect whereby any postal matter is endangered, mislaid, de-
tained or delayed,
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or
with both.
Explanation 1 - Nothing in this section shall extend to the opening or detaining of any
postal matter returned because the addressee is dead or cannot be found or refuses to accept
delivery or refuses or neglects to pay any charges payable in respect of the postal matter.
Explanation. 2 - Nothing in this section shall extend to the opening, detaining or delay-
ing of any postal matter by a public servant under the authority of any act or law or in obedi-
ence to an express warrant in writing under the hand of the Minister charged with responsibil-
ity for posts and telecommunications.
460. Fraudulently removing stamps
Whoever with intent to defraud removes from any postal matter any stamp affixed
thereon or removes from a stamp previously used any postal mark or knowingly uses a post-
age stamp which has been marked by a public servant authorised so to do shall be punished
with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.
461. Fraudulent evasion of postal laws
Whoever with fraudulent intent-
(a) subscribes on the outside of anything sent by post a false statement of its con-
tents; or
(b) puts into a post office anything which falsely purports to be a thing falling
within any exemption or privilege declared by the laws relating to postal mat-
ter, shall be punished with a fine which may extend to N 100.
462. Unlawful franking of letters
Whoever being a public servant franks any postal matter-
(a) which does not relate to the business of his office; or
(b) which contains anything which does not relate to such business,
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or
with both.
463. Sending dangerous or obscene things by post
Whoever intentionally sends by post anything which-
(a) encloses anything of such a nature as to be likely to cause injury to any person
or thing in the course of conveyance; or
(b) encloses any obscene book, pamphlet, paper, gramophone record or similar
article, drawing, painting, representation or figure,
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with tine or
with both.
464. Illegally setting up of post office
Whoever without the authority in writing of the Post-Master General places or maintains
or permits to be placed or maintained, or to remain on any place under his control-
(a) the words "post office", or
(b) the words "letter box", accompanied with words, letters or marks which signify
or imply, or may reasonably lead the public to believe, that it is a receptacle
provided by authority for the reception of postal matter; or
(c) any words, letters or marks which signify or imply, or may reasonably lead the
public to believe, that any place is a post office, or that any such receptacle is
provided by authority,
shall be punished with a fine which may extend to N 10.
465. Damaging post office, etc.
Whoever intentionally destroys, damages or defaces, any post office, receptacle provided
by authority for the reception of postal matter, or any card or notice relating to the postal or
telegraph service set up by authority of the Post-Master General, shall be punished with a fine
which may extend to N l00.
466. Placing injurious substances in or against letter box
Whoever places in or against any receptacle provided by authority for the reception of
postal matter or telegrams, any fire or match, or any explosive, dangerous, noxious or delete-
rious substance, or any tluid or filth shall be punished with a fine which may extend to N40.
467. Interference with telecommunications
Whoever intentionally and unlawfully-
(a) destroys, damages or removes, any telecommunication works; or
(b) prevents or obstructs the sending or delivering of a communication by any tele-
communication equipment,
shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine or with
both.
468. Negligently injuring telecommunications
Whoever negligently destroys or damages any telecommunication works shall be pun-
ished with a fine which may extend to N 4.
CHAPTER XXXV
Offences relating to railways and aircraft
469. Intentionally endangering safety of persons travelling by railway
Whoever with intent to injure or to endanger the safety of any persons travelling by any
railway-
(a) places anything on the railway; or
(b) deals with the railway or with anything whatever upon or near the railway, in
such a manner as to affect or endanger the free and safe use of the railway; or
(c) shows any light or signal, or in any way deals with any existing light or signal,
upon or near the railway; or
(d) by any omission to do any act which it is his duty to do causes the free and safe
use of the railway to be endangered,
shall be punished with imprisonment for life or for any less term and shall also be liable to
fine.
470. Obstructing and injuring railways
Whoever unlawfully and with intent to obstruct the use of a railway or to injure any
property upon a railway-
(a) places anything on the railway; or
(b) deals with the railway or with anything whatever upon or near the railway, in
such a manner as to affect or endanger the free and safe use of the railway; or
(c) shows any light or signal, or in any way deals with any existing light or signal,
upon or near the railway.
471. Damage to railway works
Whoever-
(a) intentionally damages or obstructs any work, way, road, building, turnstile,
gate, toll bar, fence, weighing machine, engine, tender, carriage, wagon, truck
material or plant belonging to any railway works; or
(b) intentionally interferes with, any pole, stake, flag, peg, line, mark, or anything
driven or placed in or upon the ground, any tree, stone, or buildings, or any
other material belonging to any railway works; or
(c) commits any nuisance or trespass in or upon any land, buildings or premises,
acquired for or belonging to any railway works; or
(d) intentionally obstructs the officer in charge of any railway or his assistants or
workmen in the execution of any work done or to be done in reference to the
construction or maintenance of any such railway,
shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine which
may extend to N 40 or with both.
472. Obstructing aircraft
Whoever, by any unlawful act obstructs, causes an alteration to be made in the course of
or in any way whatsoever hinders or impedes the movement of any aircraft, which is in mo-
tion on or in flight over any aerodrome shall be punished with imprisonment which may ex-
tend to two years or with fine or with both.
473. Trespass on aerodrome
Whoever commits any nuisance or trespass in or upon any aerodrome or in or upon any
building or premises situated on any aerodrome shall be punished with imprisonment which
may extend to three months or with fine or with both.
CHAPTER XXXVI
Offences relating to mines and minerals
474. Fraudulently dealing with minerals in mines
Whoever takes, conceals, or otherwise disposes of, any ore of any metal or mineral in or
about a mine, with intent to defraud shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend
to three years or with fine or with both.
475. Attempt to injure mines
Whoever with intent to injure a mine or to obstruct the working of a mine-
(a) unlawfully, and otherwise than by an act done underground in the course of
working an adjoining mine-
(i) cause water to run into the mine or into any subterranean passage commu-
nicating with the mine; or
(ii) obstructs any shaft or passage of the mine; or
(b) unlawfully obstructs the working of any machine, appliance, or apparatus, ap-
pertaining to or used with the mine, whether the thing in question is completed
or not; or
(c) unlawfully, and with intent to render it useless, injures or unfastens a rope,
chain or tackle or whatever material, which is used in the mine, or upon any
way or work appertaining to or used with the mine,
shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to seven years or with fine or with
both.
CHAPTER XXXVII
Deportation and passports
476. Deportation of non-citizens of Nigeria
(1) Whoever not being a citizen of Nigeria shall, upon conviction of an offence under
section 201, 275, 276, 278 or 281 be liable to be deported by order of the Minister charged
with responsibility for such matters, and the provisions of the Immigration Act shall apply
mutatis mutandis in the case of a deportation under this section.
[Cap.11 ]
(2) Where any person being a citizen of Nigeria is deported from any British possession
to Nigeria under the provisions of any law of such possession and for offences similar to the
offences contained in sections 201, 275, 276, 278 or 281, such person may, on arrival in Nige-
ria, be kept temporarily in custody and returned under police escort to the place in Nigeria to
which such person belongs.
477. False statements in application for passports
Whoever for the purpose of procuring a passport, whether for himself or any other indi-
vidual, makes or causes to be made in any written application to a public servant a statement
which to the knowledge of such person is false in any material particular shall be punished
with imprisonment which may extend to one year.
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION
No Subsidiary Legislation
