Nigeria and Ethiopia seal agreement to transfer 100 Nigerian prisoners

The Federal Government has signed an agreement with the Government of Ethiopia to transfer more than 100 Nigerian prisoners serving sentences in Ethiopian correctional facilities back to Nigeria.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu alongside the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the agreement was aimed at facilitating the repatriation of Nigerian inmates currently held in Kaliti Prison and Aba Samuel Prison in Ethiopia.

The deal is a bilateral Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement between the two countries and the agreement reflects the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad she said.

The minister added that four Nigerian prisoners had died during the prolonged negotiation and legal vetting process, stressing the urgency of the agreement.

She said efforts were ongoing to ensure the safe return of affected Nigerians, while urging citizens abroad to respect the laws of their host countries

Nigeria has been working to secure the repatriation of nearly 300 citizens serving prison sentences in Ethiopia, following worsening conditions in detention facilities such as Kaliti Prison in Addis Ababa.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerians in foreign prisons are treated with dignity and in line with international legal frameworks.

“While we continue to encourage our citizens living and travelling abroad to respect the laws of their host countries, and uphold the good name of our nation, we also remain committed to ensuring that those who find themselves in conflict with the law are treated with dignity and accorded their rights under applicable legal frameworks,” she stated.