What Nigerian govt is doing to free citizen on death row in Saudi Arabia – NIDCOM

Amnesty International said Suliamon Olufemi received an unfair trial and has been languishing in prison in Saudi Arabia since 2002, and maintains his innocence.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has provided clarification on the case of Suleimon Olufemi, a Nigerian man who has spent more than 20 years on death row in Saudi Arabia, following an open letter by Amnesty International urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene.

In an open letter to Mr Tinubu on Monday, the global rights group said Suliamon Olufemi received an unfair trial and has been languishing in prison in Saudi Arabia since 2002 and maintains his innocence.

“Throughout his pre-trial detention and trial, Sulaimon Olufemi was denied legal representation, consular access, and adequate translation or interpretation services.

“He and others arrested alongside him alleged that they were tortured and otherwise ill-treated during interrogation and forced to thumbprint a statement written in Arabic, a language they could not read. They said the judge at the court of first instance later relied on the document as a ‘confession,’” the letter signed by Amnesty International’s Country Director in Nigeria stated.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, NIDCOM said Amnesty International’s publication omitted key facts surrounding the case, including the efforts already made by Nigerian authorities and stakeholders to secure Mr Olufemi’s release.

“It has come to the notice of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) that an open letter published in some Nigerian newspapers by Amnesty International and addressed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the case of Suleimon Olufemi, who has been on death row in Saudi Arabia for more than 20 years,” the commission said. “Though on the surface, Amnesty International purports to be fighting for his release, it deliberately left out some facts.”

NIDCOM explained that Mr Olufemi travelled to Saudi Arabia for a lesser Hajj (Umrah) and was later arrested in Jeddah after a police officer was killed in an incident in the area where he was visiting a friend. While others arrested were given prison sentences, Mr Olufemi was sentenced to death, the statement said.

According to the commission, with the child of the deceased policeman now over 18 years old, Saudi law allows the family to either uphold the death sentence or grant a pardon upon payment of blood money (Diyya). The family reportedly demanded $570,000 as compensation.

“After a series of diplomatic interventions and several meetings with the family, they insisted Suleimon Olufemi must pay blood money (Diyya) to the tune of $570,000 dollars,” NIDCOM said. “This was about three and a half years ago and Amnesty International was nowhere to be found then when we approached them to collaborate to raise the funds required.”

NIDCOM said the required amount has since been fully raised and paid through efforts involving the commission, the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, and private individuals.

It disclosed that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu contributed to the course, and Seyi Tinubu, son of President Tinubu, also contributed, while the balance was raised through a GoFundMe campaign initiated by the Yaro brothers. The payment was made during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The commission added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia are currently engaging Saudi authorities on Mr Olufemi’s release, noting that the foreign affairs minister has briefed President Tinubu on the matter.

“With the funds raised and diplomatic moves being made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs who has also briefed Mr President, we are optimistic that the Saudi Authorities will pardon Suleimon Olufemi,” NIDCOM said, adding that Mr Olufemi “apparently was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

NIDCOM acknowledged Amnesty International’s interest in the case but urged the organisation to be factual. It also revealed that the commission’s chairperson hosted Mr Olufemi’s elderly parents at its Lagos office on 30 December 2020.

The commission appealed to Saudi authorities to release Mr Olufemi, citing fairness, justice and cordial diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.