The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued an announcement categorically refuting claims to latest allegations made by one Dr. Paul Ezike concerning the situation of Nigerian inmates in Kaliti Prison, Ethiopia,
The assertion, launched by Mrs. Francisca Okay. Omayuli, the Spokesperson for the Ministry, asserts that Dr. Ezike’s account has been exaggerated and doesn’t precisely symbolize the scenario.
According to the assertion, there are over 270 Nigerian nationals serving jail sentences in Ethiopia, primarily for drug-related offenses. The Nigerian Mission in Addis Ababa usually conducts consular visits to those inmates to make sure their well-being and interact with Ethiopian authorities on their behalf.
The Ethiopian authorities have constantly maintained that Nigerian inmates are handled equally alongside different prisoners, regardless of challenges corresponding to restricted sources and budgetary constraints in the face of a rising inmate inhabitants.
In response to the calls for of Nigerian inmates, the Federal Government of Nigeria is in the method of finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ethiopian Government concerning the Transfer/Exchange of Prisoners. Once carried out, this settlement will enable Nigerian inmates to finish their sentences in Nigeria, with assist from their households.
This initiative is especially essential for inmates with underlying well being points. Recent studies from the Federal Prison Hospital in Kaliti revealed the deaths of Ms. Favour Chizoba and Mr. Joachim Uchenna Nwanneneme, who suffered from cardiac arrest and kidney failure, respectively.
While acknowledging that jail situations will be difficult,, the Nigerian government urges its residents to chorus from partaking in transnational organized crimes, together with drug and human trafficking, to keep away from imprisonment and the unfavorable penalties that observe.
Ethiopia’s Bole International Airport, as a significant transit hub, usually sees interceptions of drug traffickers, with Nigerians generally concerned.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is dedicated to addressing any bilateral points with Ethiopia attributable to the actions of a number of people, and it’ll proceed its engagement with Ethiopian authorities to foster pleasant relations between the 2 nations.
In conclusion, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeks to make clear that Dr. Paul Ezike’s claims concerning Nigerian inmates in Kaliti Prison don’t align with the official stance on the matter. Efforts are underway to enhance the situations and facilitate the return of these inmates to Nigeria.
