We paid $57,000 – NIDCOM speaks on efforts to rescue Nigerian on Saudi Arabia’s death row

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) said it has paid $57,000.00 as part of efforts to rescue one Suleimon Olufemi, a Nigerian who has been on death row in Saudi Arabia for more than 20 years.

Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NIDCOM said this in a statement on Tuesday while reacting to an open letter published in some Nigerian newspapers by Amnesty International on the Nigerian who was on death row in Saudi Arabia.

Amnesty International had in the letter urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the case of Suleimon Olufemi who has been on death row in Saudi Arabia for more than 20 years.

However, NIDCOM accused Amnesty International of hypocrisy in its purported campaign for release of Olufemi.

According to the Commission, Amnesty International deliberately left out some facts in its publication

NIDCOM in the statement recalled that Suleimon Olufemi left Nigeria for lesser Hajj (Umra) in Saudi Arabia and decided to check on a friend in Jeddah where there was an incident where a police officer was killed and he was arrested amongst those in the vicinity for murder.

The Commission recalled that he was subsequently sentenced to death for the murder, though some of those arrested with him got prison sentences.

NIDCOM also noted that under the Saudi Arabian laws, with the legal age of the child of the policeman that was killed now over 18 years, the family could decide to pardon Olufemi or hold on to the death sentence.

It added that after a series of diplomatic interventions, and several meetings with the family which included NiDCOM’s former Legal Director, (Barrister Abdullahi Bello), the family of the deceased police officer insisted Suleimon Olufemi must pay blood money (Diyya) to the tune of $570, OOO dollars about three and a half years ago.

“Amnesty International was no where 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.

Nevertheless, the Commission said it, in conjunction with the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, championed by the Yaro brothers raised the $570, OOO dollars which has been paid into an account opened specifically for the purpose.

According to the Commission, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Seyi Tinubu, contributed about $150,000 dollars to the fund, while the rest was raised through go fund me initiated by the Yaro brothers. (This was under President Mohammadu Buhari’s tenure).

The Commission said with the payment of the money, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria Embassy in Saudi Arabia have been engaging the Saudi Authorities on when Suleimon Olufemi will be released.

“With the funds raised and diplomatic moves being made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs who has also briefed Mr President , we are optimistic that the Saudi Authorities will pardon Suleimon Olufemi who has been in jail for well over 20 years now for an offence that really cannot be proven that he committed

“He apparently was in a wrong place at a wrong time.

“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 NIDCOM Chairman has been in touch with the Sulaimon Olufemi family wherein she received the aged parents on December 30, 2020 in NIDCOM office in Lagos.

“We appeal to the Saudi Arabia Authorities to release Suleimon Olufemi from prison having paid the imposed blood money in the spirit of fairness, justice and cordial diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the Commission said.