Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa has expressed optimism that Suleimon Olufemi, a Nigerian who has spent over 20 years on death row in Saudi Arabia, will be released.
In an update shared on Instagram on Wednesday, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said the required 570,000 dollars blood money demanded by the victim’s family has been fully raised and paid through years of diplomatic efforts.
“The $570,000 blood money has been fully raised and paid through years of diplomatic efforts, with support from Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu, Seyi Tinubu, and the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, championed by the Yaro brothers,” she wrote.
“Nigeria’s authorities are actively engaging Saudi officials, and we remain hopeful that justice and mercy will lead to his release.”
The update followed an emotional video interview of Olufemi’s mother, who appealed for mercy and pleaded for her son to be freed so she could see him again.
She said Olufemi’s father died in December without seeing his son.
“Have mercy on me o. Please let him be free and come home, so I can see him again. His father is dead since December and he didn’t see him. Please let me see him again. Please have mercy, let him be freed,” she said.
The comments came amid renewed public attention to the case following an open letter by Amnesty International urging President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
The organisation said Olufemi, who was arrested in 2002, received an unfair trial and has consistently maintained his innocence.
“Throughout his pre trial detention and trial, Sulaimon Olufemi was denied legal representation, consular access, and adequate translation or interpretation services,” Amnesty International said.
Responding to the letter, NIDCOM said the publication failed to reflect key developments and efforts already made by Nigerian authorities and other stakeholders to secure Olufemi’s release.
“It has come to the notice of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) that an open letter published in some Nigerian newspapers by Amnesty International and addressed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the case of Suleimon Olufemi, who has been on death row in Saudi Arabia for more than 20 years,” the commission said.
“Though on the surface, Amnesty International purports to be fighting for his release, it deliberately left out some facts.”
NIDCOM explained that Olufemi travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah and was arrested in Jeddah after a police officer was killed in an incident near where he was visiting a friend.
While others arrested were given prison sentences, Olufemi was sentenced to death.
According to the commission, since the child of the deceased officer is now over 18 years old, Saudi law allows the family to either uphold the death sentence or grant a pardon upon payment of blood money.
The family reportedly demanded 570,000 dollars.
NIDCOM said the funds were raised through contributions from individuals and groups, including the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Seyi Tinubu, with the balance raised through a GoFundMe campaign initiated by the Yaro brothers.
The payment was completed during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The commission added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia are engaging Saudi authorities on Olufemi’s release and that the minister of foreign affairs has briefed President Tinubu on the matter.
“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,” NIDCOM said.
The commission appealed to Saudi authorities to release Olufemi on the grounds of fairness, justice and diplomatic relations between both countries.
