Nigeria Piracy Law

Nigeria's legal system is composed of three different systems: common law, local customary law, and Islamic (or Sharia) law. Its primary legal system, that of common law, is modeled on the British legal system, particular related to rule of law and equitable doctrines. Nigeria has attempted to pass numerous anti-piracy legislative measures, but has been unsuccessful to date. Currently, it does not specifically criminalize piracy or armed robbery at sea under any law, but does criminalize the constituent components of these crimes in its Penal Code of 1959 (which applies to the Northern States) and the Criminal Code Act of Nigeria (which applies to the Southern States). These laws only apply, however, to Nigeria's territory and territorial waters, absent a criminal conspiracy where at least one felonious acts occurs within Nigeria.