The Nigerian Senate says it will investigate the alleged imprisonments and killings of over 250 Nigerian citizens in Ethiopia.
This is coming after the Minority Leader, Senator Simon Mwadkwon, drew the attention of his colleagues to the matter during the plenary session.
A report by one Paul Ezekiel has been circulating on the internet that over 250 Nigerians are facing maltreatment in Ethiopia without committing any offence.
Some Nigerians have therefore taken to the social media calling on the federal government to intervene in the illegal incarceration of the people by the Ethiopian government.
While presenting his motion during the plenary, Senator Mwadkwon stressed that the social media report is disturbing because it has no legal basis in the provision of international courts which Nigeria and Ethiopia are signatories to.
“Based on the sovereignty of this country and the sanctity of lives and properties of all Nigerians all over the world as captured in the Nigerian constitution especially section 33, 34 and 35 of the 1999 constitution as amended which have similar provisions in order international courts, instruments and convention which the Nigerian and the Ethiopian are signatories to. There is no justification whatsoever for taking away the dignity of any person let alone taking away the life of a citizen” he said.
The minority leader urged the Senate to immediately intervene in the crisis and conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the imprisonments and killings.
When the motion was thrown to debate, majority of the senators supported it.
The Senate consequently directed its Committees on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs to work with the Federal Government to immediately constitute a committee to visit the Republic of Ethiopia and investigate what is happening to Nigerians in the country.
The Senate also mandated the committees to report their findings back to the Senate within two weeks.
