Objectives:
The objectives of this Act are to codify, define, and establish punishment for criminal offenses within Nigeria. It serves as the governing statutory framework for criminal law, particularly in the southern states.
Restitution Measures:
The Criminal Code Act works alongside the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) Act to tackle the illegal trafficking and exportation of antiquities, treating such activities as serious criminal offences. It provides legal penalties for those who damage or steal items that define Nigerian history, community identity, and heritage.
Limitations:
The Act does not apply retroactively, meaning only removal that went against an existing law, or that occurred after 2004 can be persecuted. It does not directly address the taking of cultural heritage that occurred as part of colonial violence.
