The presidency has described as pathetic and tragic, the execution of a Nigerian woman on Monday in Saudi Arabia for drug related offences.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa,who disclosed this to State House correspondents,said she will be the eighth Nigerian to be executed in Saudi Arabia for drug related offences in the last three years.
According to her, there are 20 more on death row for the same offence, 12 have been sentenced to various jail terms in that country.
She said it has been established that there are cases of airlines working hand-in- hand with drug syndicates to put those drugs in the bags of unsuspecting pilgrims.
“We have had cases where truly they didn’t commit the offence. We have appealed to the Saudi authorities to make the trials fair, open and ensure that justice is done. Even if you are going to die, you will know that you died for an offence you committed.
“So, while we appeal to Nigerians going to Saudi Arabia, we know it is tough, obey the laws of the land. Even kolanut is treated as a drug. So we will continue to appeal to the Saudi Authorities to treat some of the cases with some form of leniency.
“ Like I said, we have 20 of them in Saudi, this is the eighth to be executed and we are hopeful that maybe we will be able to save the others. So, it is pathetic, it is tragic but we will continue to appeal to Nigerians to obey the laws of the land where you are. However, we expect the trial to be fair, open and ensure that justice truly is done because somebody is sentenced to death.”
She also described as disgraceful the arrest of five Nigerians for allegedly robbing a bureau de change in Sharjah of Dh2.3 million.
Dabiri-Erewa, said the men were a disgrace and an embarrassment to the country, themselves and their families.
She listed their names as Chimuanya Emmanuel Ozo, Benjamin Nwachukwu Ajah, Kingsley Ikenna Nwonka, Toochukwu Leonard Arise and Chile Micah Ndumodu.
“These five boys are a disgrace to this country and an embarrassment. So if UAE decides to be hard on Nigerians then we will complain that they are hard on us. But we will continue to say that one bad apple should not spoil the whole bunch. Nigerians are hardworking, intelligent so these few should not spoil the whole bunch because this has made news all over the UAE now.
“We are going to continue to name those who disgrace the country anywhere in the world and we will continue to appeal to Nigerians to be good ambassadors wherever they find themselves,” she said.
