No fewer than 18 Nigerians condemned to death in Indonesia

President Goodluck Jonathan, Saturday, requested for stay of execution on Nigerians on death row in Indonesia.

Receiving the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Abuja, who is on a 2-day state visit to the country, President Jonathan called for more bilateral relations between both counties with a pledge for an early convening of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation meeting between the two countries.

In tweets, Saturday, by Presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, both Presidents welcomed the signing of MoU between Nigeria and Indonesia to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking in narcotics, and drugs just as they agreed to promote training cooperation involving military officers of both countries.

Vanguard had earlier reported that no fewer than 18 Nigerians are presently languishing in various prisons in Indonesia with the fear that some of them may be among 10 slated for execution soon.

The 18 Nigerians were condemned to death by the Indonesian courts in 2008 for their alleged various criminal offences including drug peddling and other related offences.

 

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia inspecting a guard mounted in his honour during arrival formalities as he commenced a two-day official visit to Nigeria at the fore-courts of the Presidential Villa,Saturday in Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

 

So far, the Indonesian government had condemned a total of 21 Nigerians to death, sentenced four to life imprisonment and eight others to various jail terms ranging from 11 to 18 years.

Out of the 21 condemned Nigerians, two of them, Samuel Iwuchukwu Okoye and Hassan Anthony Nwaolisa were executed on June 28, 2008, while another, Augustine Ogbonna died under mysterious circumstances in prison custody in September, 2008.

 

Abati’s tweets:

''Pres. Jonathan requested for stay of execution of Nigerians on death row in Indonesia while both explore agreement on exchange of prisoners

“Both Presidents welcomed the signing of MoU btw Nigeria and Indonesia to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking in narcotics, and drugs.”

“Both Presidents pledged to work together towards attaining a more balanced and mutually beneficial relatnship btw Nigeria and Indonesia.”

vanguard