The Federal Government is taking significant steps to repatriate over 100 Nigerians currently serving prison sentences in Ethiopia with the recent signing of a prisoner-transfer agreement between the two nations.
Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu announced that the agreement was set to be finalized in Addis Ababa on Wednesday. She traveled to the Ethiopian capital with Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi to complete the arrangement.
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The agreement enables convicted Nigerian citizens in Ethiopian prisons to serve the remainder of their sentences in Nigeria.
This development follows an order from President Bola Tinubu for the immediate repatriation of the affected Nigerians and is the result of months of diplomatic discussions aimed at facilitating their transfer.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that the delays in finalizing the agreement have had tragic consequences, including the reported deaths of four Nigerian inmates during the prolonged negotiations and legal processes.
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“We are committed to bringing home the living,” she stated, characterizing the agreement as one based on principles of humanity, justice, and collaboration between the two countries.
The situation of Nigerians detained in Ethiopia has raised longstanding concerns, with reports of overcrowded facilities, inadequate healthcare, insufficient food, and unsanitary living conditions.
While many inmates are incarcerated for drug offenses, there are also worries about instances of wrongful imprisonment and insufficient legal representation.
Public outrage escalated in 2023 when the Senate mandated an investigation into the circumstances of approximately 250 Nigerians imprisoned in Ethiopia.
The newly established agreement is anticipated to alleviate the difficulties faced by the affected inmates, enabling them to serve their sentences closer to their families and support networks in Nigeria.
