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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Nigeria, Ethiopia Seal Deal to Repatriate Over 100 Nigerian Prisoners

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Nigeria and Ethiopia have signed an agreement to transfer over 100 Nigerian prisoners from Ethiopian facilities back to Nigeria.
  • The deal aims to repatriate Nigerian inmates held in Kaliti and Aba Samuel prisons, facilitating their return home.
  • The agreement underscores the Nigerian administration's commitment to the welfare of its citizens abroad, though four prisoners died during negotiations.

Nigeria has finalized a bilateral agreement with Ethiopia to repatriate over 100 Nigerian prisoners serving sentences in the East African nation. The pact, signed by Nigeria's Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi and Ethiopia's Justice Minister Hanna Arayaselassie, facilitates the transfer of inmates from Kaliti and Aba Samuel prisons back to Nigeria.

In Addis Ababa to sign a very important agreement with the government of Ethiopia, together with the AGF HM Lateef Fagbemi, to transfer over 100 Nigerian prisoners that are currently languishing in their prisons, namely the Kaliti Prisons and AbaSamuel Prisons, Ethiopia, back to Nigeria.

— Bianca Odumegwu-OjukwuThe Minister of Foreign Affairs disclosed the agreement on her official X handle.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu announced the agreement, emphasizing it reflects President Bola Tinubu's administration's dedication to Nigerians abroad. She noted the "prolonged negotiation and legal vetting process" during which four Nigerian prisoners died, highlighting the agreement's urgency. The deal is rooted in "humanity and justice and cooperation between our two nations."

The Agreement we sign today is rooted in the principles of humanity and justice and cooperation between our two nations.

— Bianca Odumegwu-OjukwuThe minister stated the agreement's foundation during the signing ceremony.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged Nigerian citizens abroad to respect host country laws but assured that those in conflict with the law would be treated with dignity and accorded their rights. Nigeria has been seeking the repatriation of nearly 300 citizens held in Ethiopian prisons, citing worsening conditions in facilities like Kaliti Prison.

While we continue to encourage our citizens living and travelling abroad to respect the laws of their host countries, and uphold the good name of our nation, we also remain committed to ensuring that those who find themselves in conflict with the law are treated with dignity and accorded their rights under applicable legal frameworks.

— Bianca Odumegwu-OjukwuThe minister addressed the dual commitment of encouraging law-abiding behavior while supporting citizens facing legal issues abroad.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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