Amanze Chinonye
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has countered an open letter by Amnesty International calling on President Tinubu to intervene in the case of Suleimon Olufemi, a Nigerian who has spent more than 20 years on death row in Saudi Arabia, saying the advocacy group omitted critical facts about long-standing diplomatic and financial efforts already made to secure his release.
In a press statement obtained by Prime Business Africa on Tuesday, December 23, and signed by NIDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the commission said Olufemi travelled to Saudi Arabia in the early 2000s for the lesser Hajj (Umrah) and later visited a friend in Jeddah, where a Saudi police officer was killed during an incident. He was arrested alongside others found in the vicinity and subsequently sentenced to death, while some of the accused received prison terms.
The commission explained that under Saudi Arabia’s legal system, cases involving homicide allow the victim’s family to choose between retribution or pardon through the payment of blood money (Diyya). For years, the option of pardon was unavailable because the slain officer’s child was a minor. After the child reached adulthood, the family agreed to consider clemency and demanded $570,000 as compensation.
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NIDCOM said the demand was made more than three years ago and followed extensive diplomatic engagements involving Nigerian authorities, including its former Legal Director, Abdullahi Bello. The commission noted that Amnesty International, despite later advocacy on the case, was absent during efforts to raise the required funds when approached to collaborate.
According to the statement, the full $570,000 has since been raised and paid into an account opened specifically for the purpose through a joint effort involving NIDCOM, the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia and private individuals. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Seyi Tinubu reportedly contributed about $150,000, while the remaining sum was raised through a GoFundMe campaign initiated by members of the Nigerian community in Saudi Arabia.
The fundraising and payment were completed during the administration of Late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
With the blood money paid, NIDCOM said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia are now engaging Saudi authorities to finalise Olufemi’s release. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has also briefed President Tinubu on the matter.
The commission expressed optimism that Saudi authorities would grant a pardon, noting that Olufemi has spent over two decades in detention for an offence that, according to Nigerian officials, could not be conclusively proven against him and in which he was “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
While acknowledging Amnesty International’s role in human rights advocacy, NIDCOM urged the organisation to be factual in its public interventions and avoid misrepresenting efforts already undertaken in what it described as a sensitive humanitarian case.
The statement added that the NIDCOM chairman has maintained contact with Olufemi’s family and previously received his elderly parents at the commission’s Lagos office on December 30, 2020.
NIDCOM appealed to the Saudi Arabian authorities to release Olufemi in the spirit of fairness, justice and the cordial diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
