BY NKECHI NAECHE -ESEZOBOR- Nigeria and Ethiopia have signed a prisoner transfer agreement that will allow 98 Nigerian inmates currently serving jail terms in Ethiopia to complete their sentences in Nigeria.
The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa by Nigeria’s Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, and Ethiopia’s Justice Minister, Hanna Arayaselassie, following negotiations facilitated by officials from both countries.
Speaking during a visit to the inmates at Aba Samuel Prison, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s assurance that Nigeria would not abandon its citizens abroad.
According to the minister, the agreement covers 98 Nigerians—96 men and two women—who must voluntarily consent to the transfer and have at least one year remaining on their prison terms before they can qualify.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the arrangement as part of the government’s 4-D foreign policy agenda and urged the inmates to cooperate with officials handling the necessary documentation for their transfer.
She, however, stressed that the agreement should not be viewed as a license for wrongdoing, noting that it is rooted in humanitarian considerations and the pursuit of justice. The minister also revealed that at least four Nigerians died in Ethiopian prisons while discussions on the transfer deal were ongoing.
The inmates welcomed the development and pledged to maintain good conduct as they await the completion of the transfer process. The first batch of prisoners is expected to return to Nigeria once all consent forms and administrative procedures have been finalized.
