Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – Over 50 Nigerians are currently on death row in various countries throughout the world, the majority for alleged involvement in drug related offences. The Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NARC), Mrs. Kehinde Ajoni, who disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, said the commission was worried about the growing number of Nigerians sentenced to death by foreign countries for various offences. Ajoni particularly expressed concern over the recent case of the 10 Nigerians sentenced to death by Indonesian court and called on the Indonesian authorities to show clemency to the victims.
In June of this year, two Nigerians found guilty of drug trafficking faced trials in Indonesia.
The head of the NHRC urged the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to explore relevant provisions in existing legal and international instruments to ensure that the sentence of death on the Nigerians be commuted to life imprisonment and the victims repatriated to serve their sentences in Nigeria.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister of Nigeria, there are 23,000 Nigerians detained in various parts of the world for crimes of various kinds. In Europe, there are 20,000 Nigerians serving jail terms, 1,500 in Britain alone. In Africa, there are 1500 Nigerians in Libya, 120 in Togo, and 40 in Niger.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said that the country is committed to defending and protecting the interest of all Nigerian citizens globally. But he warned that the country was not in any way encouraging its nationals to be lawless under the new policy thrust but that they should be law-abiding at all times, wherever they find themselves. The minister also advised all Nigerians to respect laws of countries where they reside, and work towards building a better image for the country. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 19/9/2008)
