The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has responded to Amnesty International’s call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the case of Suleimon Olufemi, a Nigerian who has spent over 20 years on death row in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement released in Abuja, the commission noted that the Amnesty letter, while framed as advocacy, did not reflect the full scope of actions already undertaken to secure Olufemi’s release.
According to NIDCOM, Olufemi traveled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah and a visit to a friend in Jeddah, where a police officer was fatally killed in an incident. Olufemi, found nearby, was arrested and sentenced to death, while other suspects received prison terms.
Under Saudi law, the slain officer’s family had the right to pardon Olufemi or demand blood money (Diyya) once the victim’s child reached adulthood. Upon turning 18, the family requested $570,000 as compensation, a demand made around three and a half years ago. NIDCOM highlighted that Amnesty International did not participate in efforts to raise the funds despite being approached.
The commission eventually secured the full amount in collaboration with the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, led by the Yaro brothers. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Seyi Tinubu contributed approximately $150,000, with the remainder raised via a GoFundMe campaign initiated by the Yaro brothers during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
With the required funds now deposited into a dedicated account, NIDCOM confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia are actively engaging Saudi authorities regarding Olufemi’s release. President Tinubu has been briefed on the developments.
NIDCOM expressed optimism that a pardon would follow, emphasizing that Olufemi has spent more than two decades in prison for an incident it considers unproven, describing him as being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
While commending Amnesty International’s human rights advocacy, the commission urged the organization to provide a balanced account of the case.
“We appreciate the role of Amnesty International, but we also encourage Amnesty to be factual and not just be self-seeking in this unfortunate case,” the statement added.
NIDCOM also disclosed that its chairman has maintained close contact with Olufemi’s family, hosting his elderly parents at the commission’s Lagos office on December 30, 2020. The Commission further appealed to Saudi authorities to release Olufemi, citing fairness, justice, and the longstanding diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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