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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Human Rights Commission and an eminent lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, on Wednesday differed on the fate of 16 Nigerians on death row in Indonesia.
The Senate had on Tuesday distanced itself from calls to intervene in the plight of 16 Nigerians facing death penalty for drug trafficking in Indonesia.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Matthew Nwagwu, had in a motion drew the attention of the upper chamber of the National Assembly to the plight of the 16 Nigerians.
But the Senate President, David Mark, dismissed the motion, saying the prisoners had themselves to blame because they knew the consequence of their action.
While Sagay supported the Senate’s action, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NHRC said they would ensure that the 16 Nigerians were fairly treated.
The President of the Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said although the position of the Senate looked plausible “on the face,” it failed to address the fact that most of these people were driven out of their country and into crime by bad governance and irresponsible leadership in the country.
But Sagay, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Wednesday, said the convicts deserved their ordeal.
Sagay said, “I agree with the Senate. It is enough of the international disgrace and opprobrium being brought to us by conscienceless people who saw money as God. They know their offence carries death penalty. They disgraced the country and made those of us who are innocent being ill-treated abroad because of them. Let them pay the penalty.”
But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said part of its brief was to ensure that all categories of Nigerians who travelled abroad were treated fairly.
The spokesman for the Ministry, Mr. Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode, told one of our correspondents, in Abuja, on Wednesday in the case of those arrested for civil or criminal offences, diplomats were duty bound to ensure that such individuals were given a fair hearing within the ambit of the law.
The NHRC, however, raised hope about the fate of the 16 Nigerians.
The Deputy Director, Public Relations and Communication, Mr. Lambert Okpara, told one of our correspondents in Abuja that the NHRC could appeal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to interfere and seek judicial review of the sentence.
Culled from The Punch.
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Simply Cheska...
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