FG, others deplore execution of Nigerians in Indonesia

Govt seeks repatriation of bodies

THE Federal Government yesterday expressed sadness on the execution of Nigerians in Indonesia over drug-related offence, however, expressing the hope that the sad and unfortunate experience would serve as a lesson to Nigerians to learn not to contravene the laws of their host countries, especially as they related to drug trafficking.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council, (FEC) Information Minister, Senator Patricia Akwashiki noted that though the Foreign Affairs Ministry had been interceding on their matter before their execution and it was unfortunate that any of Nigerian citizens would have to be killed like that.

According to Akwashiki, “We do not agree with what Indonesia did like any other person, we also seize this opportunity to advise Nigerians travelling abroad that these countries make it clear when they issue visas, it is there in red “penalty for drug trafficking is death.”

Please let us beware, let us respect that clause because that is their law, they will not bulge they will not shift. In as much as we also condemn it, we also advise and plead with Nigerians outside to desist from carrying drugs, the ultimate end is death.”

The foreign ministry also expressed deep disappointment, news of the execution of the four Nigerians, maintaining it took place despite spirited pleas for clemency made by President Goodluck Jonathan and more recently Minister of Foreign Affairs Aminu Bashir Wali on April 21, 2015 during the 10th Anniversary of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) Summit, which took place in Indonesia, Jakarta.

The statement signed by the Public Communications Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “The Federal Government while expressing its condolences to the families of the deceased, asked the Indonesian Government for the repatriation of the remains of the executed persons so that they can be accorded decent burial in their various communities.

The statement pledged that government would continue to promote the welfare and protect the lives of Nigerians abroad, no matter their circumstances.

“Furthermore, Government is committed to engage the Government of Indonesia and other friendly countries regarding the conclusion of Prisoner Transfer Agreements and other bilateral means of safeguarding the interest and welfare of Nigerians,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, different reactions yesterday continued to trail the execution of four Nigerians by firing squad for drug-related crimes in Indonesia.

Indonesian authorities had on Tuesday executed four Nigerians and four other nationals for drug-related offences despite pleas by the Federal Government United Nations, the European Union and Amnesty International.

The Nigerians identified as Martin Anderson, 50; Silvester Nwolise, 47; Okwudili Oyatanze, 41 and Jamiu Abashin, 50, were reportedly taken to the Nusakambangan Island where they were executed by firing squad on Tuesday evening.

The National Coordinator, Advocacy for People Rights and Justice (APRJ), Victor Giwa, urged the Indonesia Government to abolish the law.
According to him, the United Nations did not accept killing for drug offence.
“Indonesia should abolish the killing on drug offence because the United Nations resolution did to endorse killing on drug traffickers but killing to killing.”

“In my own opinion Nigerians living in that country should learn from other people’s mistake and the punishment they incurred on themselves,” he said.

Mrs. Amara Egonu, in her reaction wondered why Nigerians did not behave themselves, taking cognizance of the law of that land.

She said, “Any person into drug trafficking has decided to die or live. We have our own laws on drug offenders and so I think the Indonesia government did not kill them because they want to kill them but because they acted by the dictates of their law,” she added.

“My advice to them is that when they travel to some of these countries they should abide by their rules and regulation,” she added.

According to a report by the UK Guardian, Abashin was said to be homeless in Bangkok when a new “friend” offered him $400 to take some clothes to Indonesia.

He was nabbed in Surabaya with 5.5kilogrammes of heroin and sentenced to death in 1999.

Abashin was said to have appealed for presidential clemency, claiming he never knew he was carrying the drugs. His plea was rejected.

Nwolise was sentenced to death in 2002 for smuggling a kilogramme of heroin into Indonesia.

Oyatanze was sentenced to death in 2002, after being found guilty of attempting to bring 2.5kg of heroin through Jakarta in capsules inside his stomach.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, had on Monday personally appealed to Indonesia to stop their execution.

The European Union had also berated Indonesia’s plans to execute the convicts. The EU had noted that the death penalty was not a solution to the rise in drug-related crimes in the country.

Akwashiki, who also spoke on some national issues, including the recent suspension of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the lingering fuel queues in some parts if the country, assuring that the Jonathan administration intended to address it before it hands over to Buhari government.

Answering question on the suspension of the permanent secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Danjuma Nanpon Sheni on Tuesday on the orders of the President, the minister said the action was taken order to inject sanity and discipline into the workings of government. She denied any political undertone to the action.

According to her, “What is important here is that whatever decision government has taken should not been seen within the context of the ongoing transition process. As I said government is on course, development that happened in the country these are issues that bothered on our national interest.

“Mr. President and indeed this government is committed to plight of Nigerians anywhere they are. Our policy of protecting and promoting our citizens interest is still very much intact, that perhaps gives a clue to the issue in Indonesia but that is not to say that because as a government we are promoting our national interest, defending our nationals in those country, our nationals should take things for granted and meddle into their internal municipal laws, a kind of contravention thinking that Nigerian government will always be there to support.

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