FG moves to stop execution of Nigerians in Asia

A Director in the minister’s office, Shola Enikanolaiye, told journalists in Abuja yesterday that the visit was a follow-up to the February visit of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang-Yudhoyono to Nigeria when the issue of clemency for Nigerians on death row was discussed.At the time, the director said the Indonesian president did not provide any definite […]

A Director in the minister’s office, Shola Enikanolaiye, told journalists in Abuja yesterday that the visit was a follow-up to the February visit of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang-Yudhoyono to Nigeria when the issue of clemency for Nigerians on death row was discussed.
At the time, the director said the Indonesian president did not provide any definite answers to the pleas of the Nigerian government for pardon of its citizens in Indonesian prisons.
“You will recall that we have a lot of Nigerians on death row in that country (Indonesia). The minister is concerned and is ready to plead for clemency in a bid to ensure that some of these Nigerians, if they are not pardoned, can be returned under the Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA),” Enikanolaiye said. He added that the minister would discuss the PTA issue with Indonesia and noted that the last execution of a Nigerian in the country took place in 2012. He also recalled that former foreign minister, Ojo Madueke, undertook a similar trip to the country in 2010 which resulted in a moratorium on the execution of those on death row.
The ministry official said the minister would also hold discussions on trade and investment and seek support for Nigeria’s non-permanent bid to the UN Security Council (UNSC). There was also confirmation of the withdrawal of some Nigerian troops in Mali and Sudan.
The director confirmed that two battalions from the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) were expected in the country soon while a battalion would return from the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) saying, “A huge contingent is returning from Mali and we will only leave a small contingent of signals”.