NIDCOM Sets Record Straight On Nigerian Facing Death Row In Saudi Arabia

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has responded to an open letter by Amnesty International urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the long-running case of Suleimon Olufemi, a Nigerian who has spent more than 20 years on death row in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the commission said the Amnesty letter, though presented as advocacy, failed to reflect the full facts surrounding the case and the extensive efforts already made to secure Olufemi’s freedom.

NIDCOM explained that Olufemi travelled to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj, Umrah, before visiting a friend in Jeddah. During that visit, a police officer was killed in an incident at the location. Olufemi was arrested along with others found nearby and later sentenced to death, while some of the suspects received prison terms.

Under Saudi law, the family of the slain officer retained the right to pardon Olufemi or uphold the sentence once the victim’s child reached adulthood. When the child turned 18, the family chose to demand blood money, known as Diyya, amounting to 570,000 dollars.

According to NIDCOM, this demand was made about three and a half years ago. At that time, the commission said Amnesty did not participate in efforts to raise the funds, despite being approached.

“Amnesty International was nowhere to be found then, when we approached them to collaborate to raise the funds required since they had also shown interest in the case,” NIDCOM said in a statement signed by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

The commission said it eventually raised the full amount in collaboration with the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, led by the Yaro brothers. Contributions came from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Seyi Tinubu, who together provided about 150,000 dollars.

The remaining balance was raised through a GoFundMe campaign initiated by the Yaro brothers during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

With the money now paid into a dedicated account, NIDCOM said Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia are in active talks with Saudi authorities over Olufemi’s release. The minister has also briefed President Tinubu on the progress made.

The commission expressed confidence that a pardon would follow, noting that Olufemi had spent over two decades behind bars for an offence it believes could not be conclusively proven. It described him as someone who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

While acknowledging Amnesty International’s work in human rights advocacy, NIDCOM urged the organisation to present a balanced account of the case.

“We appreciate the role of Amnesty International, but we also encourage Amnesty to be factual and not just be self-seeking in this pathetic case,” the statement added.

NIDCOM also revealed that its chairman has remained in close contact with Olufemi’s family and received his elderly parents at the commission’s Lagos office on December 30, 2020.

The Commission appealed to Saudi authorities to release Olufemi, citing fairness, justice and the cordial diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, especially now that the required blood money has been paid.