100+ Free NG Bar Part I Criminal Law Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: NG Bar Part I Criminal Law Exam

100

Substantive Questions

Substantive Code Prep

3 hours

Exam Duration

Council of Legal Education

Crim Code

Southern Statute

Criminal Code Act

Penal Code

Northern Statute

Penal Code Act

S. 36(12)

Written Law Rule

1999 Constitution

Pass

Grading Standard

Council of Legal Education

This practice set consists of 100 multiple-choice questions designed to help foreign-trained graduates master the core principles of substantive Nigerian criminal law, covering both the Criminal Code and Penal Code.

Sample NG Bar Part I Criminal Law Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NG Bar Part I Criminal Law exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which of the following is a prerequisite for a person to be convicted of a criminal offence?

A.The offence must be recognized under customary law or native law and custom.

B.The offence must be defined, and the penalty for it prescribed, in a written law.

C.The offence must have been prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

D.The suspect must have made a written statement admitting to the offence in police custody.

Explanation: Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria guarantees that a person shall not be convicted of a criminal offence unless that offence is defined and the penalty for it is prescribed in a written law. Written law refers to an Act of the National Assembly, a Law of a State, any subsidiary legislation, or instrument under the provisions of a law. This constitutionally abolishes unwritten customary criminal law in Nigeria, as established in Aoko v. Fagbemi.

2Which of the following describes the territorial application of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria?

A.It applies uniformly throughout the entire federation of Nigeria.

B.It applies to the Northern States of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.

C.It applies to the Southern States of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory for federal offences.

D.It applies only to maritime offences committed within the exclusive economic zone.

Explanation: Substantive criminal law in Nigeria is divided geographically. The Criminal Code Act applies to the Southern States of Nigeria, and also applies to federal offences in the Federal Capital Territory. The Northern States are governed by the Penal Code Act, which has different origins and structures.

3Under Section 24 of the Criminal Code, a person is not criminally responsible for an act or omission which occurs independently of the exercise of his will. This provision embodies which fundamental concept of criminal liability?

A.Mens rea (the guilty mind)

B.Actus reus (the voluntary physical act)

C.Strict liability

D.Vicarious liability

Explanation: Under Section 24 of the Criminal Code, a person is exempt from liability for acts occurring independently of the exercise of their will, which relates to the requirement of a voluntary act (actus reus). An involuntary act, such as a reflex action, spasm, or act done during sleepwalking, lacks the necessary physical voluntariness, thereby failing to satisfy the actus reus requirement.

4In Nigerian criminal law, what is the standard of proof required to establish the guilt of an accused person, and where is it codified?

A.Proof beyond reasonable doubt, codified in Section 135 of the Evidence Act 2011.

B.Proof on the balance of probabilities, codified in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

C.Proof beyond shadow of doubt, codified under the Criminal Code Act.

D.Proof to a reasonable certainty, codified in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Explanation: Section 135(1) of the Evidence Act 2011 codifies the fundamental standard that the burden of proving that any person has been guilty of a crime or wrongful act is on the prosecution, and must be proved beyond reasonable doubt. This standard is also supported by the presumption of innocence in Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution.

5Under Section 30 of the Criminal Code, what is the status of criminal responsibility for a child under the age of seven years?

A.The child is presumed to be capable of committing an offence until the contrary is proved.

B.The child is doli incapax (absolutely free from criminal responsibility).

C.The child is doli capax only if the prosecution proves the child had capacity to know he ought not to do the act.

D.The child can only be prosecuted for minor offences in a juvenile court.

Explanation: Section 30 of the Criminal Code creates an absolute irrebuttable presumption of law (doli incapax) that a child under the age of seven years cannot commit any crime. No evidence can be admitted to show that the child possessed the capacity to know the nature or wrongfulness of their conduct.

6According to Section 30 of the Criminal Code, a child between the ages of seven and twelve is not criminally responsible for an act or omission unless it is proved that:

A.The child was accompanied by an adult relative during the commission of the act.

B.The child had capacity to know that he ought not to do the act or make the omission.

C.The child had attained secondary school level education.

D.The child has committed a felony punishable with death.

Explanation: For children aged seven to twelve, Section 30 of the Criminal Code establishes a rebuttable presumption of criminal irresponsibility. The prosecution must prove that at the time of doing the act or making the omission, the child had the capacity to know that they ought not to do the act or make the omission.

7Under what circumstances can a corporate body be held criminally liable for an offence requiring mens rea under Nigerian law?

A.A corporate body can never be held criminally liable for offences requiring mens rea, as a corporation has no mind.

B.A corporation can be liable if the criminal act and mental state are traced to individuals who are the 'directing mind and will' (alter ego) of the company.

C.A corporation is automatically liable for all criminal acts committed by any of its low-level employees during work hours.

D.A corporation can only be held liable for administrative tax penalties, never for criminal offences.

Explanation: Under Nigerian law, as established in cases like ACME Office Supplies and Lennard's Carrying Co, corporate criminal liability is based on the 'alter ego' or 'directing mind and will' doctrine. If the physical and mental elements of an offence are committed by key officers (like directors or managing directors) who control the corporate entity, their acts and state of mind are attributed to the corporation itself.

8What is the statutory limitation regarding the prosecution of homicide under Section 314 of the Criminal Code Act (year-and-a-day rule)?

A.The prosecution must file charges within one year and one day of the commission of the offence.

B.A person is not deemed to have killed another if the death does not take place within a year and a day of the cause of death.

C.The accused cannot be detained in prison custody for more than a year and a day before trial.

D.An appeal against a conviction for murder must be filed within a year and a day.

Explanation: Section 314 of the Criminal Code Act codifies the common law 'year-and-a-day' rule. It provides that a person is not deemed to have killed another if the death of that person does not take place within a year and a day of the body injury or cause of death. If the victim dies after this period, the law conclusively presumes the death was due to other causes.

9How does the Penal Code Act (applicable in Northern Nigeria) differ from the Criminal Code Act (applicable in Southern Nigeria) regarding the M'Naghten rule on irresistible impulse?

A.The Penal Code explicitly recognizes irresistible impulse, while the Criminal Code rejects it.

B.The Criminal Code recognizes irresistible impulse under Section 28, while the Penal Code under Section 51 does not recognize it.

C.Both codes reject irresistible impulse and require absolute cognitive insanity.

D.Both codes allow irresistible impulse as a partial defence to reduce murder to manslaughter.

Explanation: Under Section 28 of the Criminal Code (South), insanity includes cognitive insanity and volitional insanity (irresistible impulse), where a mental disease deprives a person of the capacity to control their actions. In contrast, Section 51 of the Penal Code (North) is modeled after the Indian Penal Code and only recognizes cognitive insanity (incapacity to know the nature of the act or that it is wrong or contrary to law), excluding irresistible impulse.

10Under Section 24 of the Criminal Code, a person is not criminally responsible for an event which occurs by accident. Which of the following is the legal test for determining if an event is an 'accident'?

A.The event was not intended by the accused and was not reasonably foreseeable by a reasonable person.

B.The event occurred without any physical contact between the accused and the victim.

C.The accused has sworn an affidavit stating the act was unintentional.

D.The act was committed under the influence of involuntary intoxication.

Explanation: Under Section 24 of the Criminal Code, as interpreted in cases like Adelumola v. State, an event is an accident if it was neither intended by the accused nor was it a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the accused's voluntary act. If a reasonable person would have foreseen the outcome, the defence of accident fails.

About the NG Bar Part I Criminal Law Exam

The Nigerian Bar Part I Criminal Law exam tests foreign-trained law graduates on their understanding of substantive criminal law in Nigeria. It covers general principles of liability, capacity, parties, inchoate crimes, general defences, and specific offences against the person, property, and public order, highlighting the structural differences between the Southern Criminal Code and Northern Penal Code.

Assessment

Substantive law paper consisting of essay problems and short answers

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

Satisfactory pass in all courses

Exam Fee

Included in tuition fees (Council of Legal Education (CLE))

NG Bar Part I Criminal Law Exam Content Outline

20%

Introduction, Sources, and General Principles of Criminal Liability

Sources of Nigerian criminal law (Criminal Code vs. Penal Code), definition of crime, elements of an offence (actus reus and mens rea), voluntariness, strict liability, causation, capacity (infancy, corporations), and the presumption of innocence.

15%

Parties to Offences and Inchoate Offences

Classification of principal offenders under Section 7 CC, joint enterprise and common intention under Section 8 CC, abetment under the Penal Code, accessories after the fact, conspiracy, attempts, and solicitation.

25%

General Defences to Criminal Liability

M'Naghten rules and insane delusions (Section 28 CC, Section 51 PC), volitional insanity / irresistible impulse, automatism (insane vs. non-insane), voluntary and involuntary intoxication, honest and reasonable mistake of fact, self-defence and private defence rules, provocation, necessity, compulsion, and accident.

20%

Specific Offences against the Person

Homicide (murder under Section 316 CC, culpable homicide punishable with death under Section 221 PC, manslaughter, culpable homicide not punishable with death), assaults, wounding and grievous harm, sexual offences (rape, defilement, marital consent rules), criminal negligence, infanticide, and suicide pacts.

20%

Specific Offences against Property, Public Order, and State

Stealing under Section 383 CC vs. theft under Section 286 PC, robbery and armed robbery (Robbery and Firearms Act), obtaining by false pretences, receiving stolen property, burglary and housebreaking, arson, forgery, official corruption, bribery, treason, sedition, unlawful assembly, riot, and affray.

How to Pass the NG Bar Part I Criminal Law Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Satisfactory pass in all courses
Assessment: Substantive law paper consisting of essay problems and short answers
Time limit: 3 hours
Exam fee: Included in tuition fees

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NG Bar Part I Criminal Law Study Tips from Top Performers

1Familiarize yourself with the structural and geographical differences between the Southern Criminal Code and Northern Penal Code.

2Understand the three capacities of insanity under Section 28 of the Criminal Code, and contrast it with cognitive-only insanity under Section 51 of the Penal Code.

3Memorize key case law precedents such as Aoko v. Fagbemi (constitutional written law requirement) and Shande v. State (proportionality in provocation).

4Pay attention to the specific definitions of property crimes—such as stealing vs. theft, and obtaining by false pretences vs. criminal breach of trust.

5Understand the difference between principal liability under Section 7 of the Criminal Code and abetment under the Penal Code.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is required to take the Bar Part I examination?

Foreign-trained law graduates who wish to practice in Nigeria must take the Bar Part I course and pass all exams (including Criminal Law) before they can proceed to the vocational Bar Part II programme.

What is the key difference between the Criminal Code and the Penal Code?

The Criminal Code Act applies to Southern Nigeria and is heavily based on English common law. The Penal Code Act applies to Northern Nigeria and is based on the Sudanese/Indian Penal Codes, incorporating elements of Islamic law and featuring a different classification of abetment, insanity, and property crimes.

Is irresistible impulse a defence throughout Nigeria?

No. Volitional insanity (irresistible impulse / loss of control) is recognized as a complete defence under Section 28 of the Southern Criminal Code. However, Section 51 of the Northern Penal Code does not recognize volitional insanity, limiting the insanity defence to cognitive deficits.

Does the year-and-a-day rule apply to Northern Nigeria?

No. The year-and-a-day rule is codified under Section 314 of the Southern Criminal Code. The Northern Penal Code does not contain this rule, meaning causation in homicide is determined by general principles of proximity without a strict calendar limitation.