Drug Trafficking: Buhari Directs AGF to Ensure Aliyu’s Safety Return to Nigeria
- Buhari orders Malami to do the needful to secure Aliyu’s release.
- About 23 Nigerians are on death row in Saudi Arabia.
President Buhari Muhammadu has directed Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami to ensure safe return of a Nigerian woman, Zainab Aliyu awaiting execution for drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia to the country.
President Buhari’s orders became necessary when reports from investigations revealed that Aliyu was innocent.
The president’s order was revealed by Abike Dabiri, the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the President on Foreign Relations and Diaspora.
The hard drug is said to have been allegedly ‘planted’ in her luggage by syndicate group in the airport who specialize in planting hard drugs in travellers luggage.
Full list of Nigerians on death row
Few weeks ago, the Saudi authorities executed Kudirat Afolabi for drug trafficking and Saheed Sobade, another Nigerian, reportedly nabbed with 1,183 grams of cocaine powder in Jeddah.
Speaking on the stance of the kingdom of drug trafficking, Adnan Mahmod Bostaji, Saudi ambassador to Nigeria, said sentences are only administered when there is evidence.
Bostaji who insisted that the country’s legal system is transparent and fair said that about 1.5 million Nigerians live in the country and are engaged in legitimate businesses.
READ: Two Nigerians Arrested in Phillipines Over Possession of Drugs
He also said that they are not subjected to any form of molestation.
iDONSABI has gathered that about 23 Nigerians are on the death row in Saudi Arabia for “drug-related offences”,.
Nigerians were convicted for contravening the narcotic and psychotropic substances control law, which is punishable by death.
They were said to have been arrested between 2016 and 2017 at King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Jeddah and Prince Muhammad bin Abdu- Aziz International Airport, Madinah having concealed the banned substances in their rectums.
The names of the convicted persons are listed below.
Adeniyi Adebayo Zikri
Tunde Ibrahim
Jimoh Idhola Lawal
Lolo Babatunde
Sulaiman Tunde
Idris Adewuumi Adepoju
Abdul Raimi Awela Ajibola
Yusuf Makeen Ajiboye
Adam Idris Abubakar
Saka Zakaria
Biola Lawal.
Isa Abubakar Adam
Ibrahim Chiroma
Hafis Amosu
Aliu Muhammad
Funmilayo Omoyemi Bishi
Mistura Yekini
Amina Ajoke Alobi
Kuburat Ibrahim
Alaja Olufunke Alalaoe Abdulqadir
Fawsat Balagun Alabi
Aisha Muhammad Amira
Adebayo Zakariya.
