Tinubu orders repatriation of 300 Nigerians held in Ethiopian prison

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate repatriation of nearly 300 Nigerian nationals detained in Ethiopia. A high-level delegation, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney-General of the Federation, is en route to Addis Ababa to finalize a memorandum of understanding with the Ethiopian government. This agreement will facilitate the transfer of the prisoners to Nigeria to complete their sentences.

The directive stems from urgent concerns over the deteriorating conditions faced by the inmates at Kaliti, a maximum-security prison in Addis Ababa. Sources indicate that the prisoners are held in "open-air prisons" and are suffering from a lack of medical care, overcrowding, and physical punishment. The situation has been ongoing for over three years, with advocacy groups raising alarms since 2019.

“

We are leaving because we have prisoners. The President has directed us to get these prisoners back. He directed that we go there right away with the Attorney-General, get an MOU quickly signed, so that these prisoners can be transported back to Nigeria, so that they can serve out the rest of their sentences here.

Recent incidents have heightened the urgency. Chizoba Favour Eze, a Nigerian inmate, died in March 2023 following alleged brutalization by prison officials. Uchenna Nwanneneme died from tuberculosis in September 2023 with little medical attention, and Basil Lawrence Ilobi also died in custody. These deaths have prompted protests from Nigeria's mission in Addis Ababa and renewed calls from families for government intervention.

This direct presidential intervention marks a significant shift after years of diplomatic efforts. Official figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicate over 270 Nigerians are imprisoned in Ethiopia, primarily for drug-related offenses. The Federal High Court in Abuja had previously ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to facilitate the return of these prisoners, noting Ethiopia's admission of the issue.

“

They are dying. We have almost 300 prisoners in the open-air prisons in Ethiopia.