VlDEO: Nearly 100 Nigerians in Ethiopian Prisons Cleared for Transfer Back Home
Nigeria is set to receive nearly 100 of its citizens currently serving prison sentences in Ethiopia following a new agreement reached between both countries.
The arrangement, signed in Addis Ababa earlier this week, will allow eligible Nigerian inmates to complete the remainder of their jail terms in Nigeria rather than Ethiopia.
The development was disclosed during a visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, to Nigerian prisoners held at Aba Samuel Prison in Ethiopia.
During the visit, she conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s message that the government remains concerned about the welfare of Nigerians abroad, including those in detention.
Under the agreement, 98 Nigerian inmates, among them two women, qualify for transfer. Ethiopian authorities stated that only prisoners who voluntarily agree to the relocation and have at least one year left to serve on their sentences will be considered.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the pact as part of Nigeria’s citizen-focused diplomatic efforts, emphasizing that humanitarian considerations played a major role in securing the arrangement.
She revealed that four Nigerian inmates died while discussions and legal processes leading to the agreement were ongoing.
The minister urged the prisoners to complete the necessary documentation required for their transfer and encouraged them to focus on rehabilitation, self-development and lawful living.
According to her, the Federal Government is committed to supporting returning inmates through skills acquisition, capacity-building initiatives and other reintegration programmes aimed at helping them rebuild their lives.
Representing the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Assistant Controller-General Aminu Yusuf assured the inmates that preparations had already been made for their arrival in Nigeria.
He explained that the returnees would first be processed at the Kuje Correctional Centre before being moved to correctional facilities closer to their families.
The announcement was met with excitement among the inmates, many of whom expressed appreciation to the Nigerian government and officials involved in securing the transfer agreement.
Speaking on behalf of the prisoners, their representative welcomed the development and pledged that those returning would conduct themselves responsibly and make the most of the opportunity.
