Chapter IV
Fundamental Rights
33. (1) Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in
execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty
in Nigeria.
(2) A person shall not be regarded as having been deprived of his life in
contravention of this section, if he dies as a result of the use, to such extent and in
such circumstances as are permitted by law, of such force as is reasonably necessary
(a) for the defence of any person from unlawful
violence or for the defence of property:
(b) in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent
the escape of a person lawfully detained; or
(c) for the purpose of suppressing a riot,
insurrection or mutiny.
34. (1) Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly (a) no person shall be subject to torture or to
inhuman or degrading treatment;
(b) no person shall he held in slavery or
servitude; and
(c) no person shall be required to perform forced
of compulsory labour.
(2) for the purposes of subsection (1) (c) of this section, "forced or compulsory
labour" does not include (a) any labour required in consequence of the
sentence or order of a court;
(b) any labour required of members of the armed
forces of the Federation or the Nigeria Police
Force in pursuance of their duties as such;
(c) in the case of persons who have
conscientious objections to service in the armed
forces of the Federation, any labour required
instead of such service;
(d) any labour required which is reasonably
necessary in the event of any emergency or
calamity threatening the life or well-being of the
community; or
(e) any labour or service that forms part of (i) normal communal or other
civic obligations of the wellbeing of the community.
(ii) such compulsory national
service in the armed forces of
the Federation as may be
prescribed by an Act of the
National Assembly, or