More than 100 Nigerians incarcerated in Ethiopian prisons could soon be transferred home as Nigeria and Ethiopia prepare to sign a prisoner transfer agreement.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, is in Addis Ababa to sign the deal, alongside Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi.
They were received by the Ethiopian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the Chief of Protocol.
The deal will be inked on Wednesday, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said in an X post.
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The minister noted that four Nigerian prisoners have died within the time frame it has taken for the negotiations, judicial vetting and the final ratification process.
“We cannot afford to lose any more precious lives. We are determined to bring home the living,” she said, identifying the facilities holding the Nigerians as Kaliti Prison and Aba Samuel Prison in Ethiopia.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the bilateral agreement is rooted in the principles of humanity and justice and cooperation between Nigeria and Ethiopia.
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“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,” the minister said.
She noted that the welfare and protection of Nigerian citizens abroad remains a priority for President Bola Tinubu and thanked the Ethiopian government for the milestone.
