The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has set the record straight regarding the death row case of Suleimon Olufemi in Saudi Arabia, following an open letter by Amnesty International urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene.
In a press statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NiDCOM said Amnesty International left out key facts surrounding the case.
The statement reads partly: “Suleimon Olufemi left Nigeria for lesser Hajj (Umra) in Saudi Arabia and decided to check on a friend in Jeddah where there was an incident in which a police officer was killed, and he was arrested amongst those in the vicinity for murder. Unfortunately for him, while some got prison sentences, he got a death sentence.
“With the legal age of the child of the policeman that was killed now over 18 years, the family could decide to pardon him or hold on to the death sentence. After a series of diplomatic interventions, and several meetings with the family which included NiDCOM’s former Legal Director, Barrister Abdullahi Bello, they insisted Suleimon Olufemi must pay blood money (Diyya) to the tune of $570,000.
“In any case, NiDCOM, in conjunction with the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, championed by the Yaro brothers, raised the $570,000 dollars which has been paid into an account opened specifically for this purpose with financial support from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Seyi Tinubu, who contributed about $150,000 dollars while the rest was raised through GoFundMe initiated by the Yaro brothers.
“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 who has been in jail for well over 20 years now for an offence that really cannot be proven that he committed.”
NiDCOM further appealed to the Saudi authorities to release Olufemi in the spirit of fairness, justice, and continued cordial diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Commission commended Amnesty International’s advocacy role but urged the organisation to present a complete and factual account of the case, rather than pursuing self-interest, according to the statement.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun confirmed that the NIDCOM Chairman has been in touch with Olufemi’s family and received his aged parents at the Commission’s Lagos office on December 30, 2020.
