Another Nigerian Rescued From Execution In Saudi Arabia
For the second time in 10 months, the Federal Government of Nigeria, on the instruction of President Muhammadu Buhari through its agencies, has rescued another Nigerian, Malam Ibrahim
Ibrahim, an indigene of Zamafara state, from being executed by Saudi
Arabia authorities over drug related matters.
This cheering news is contained in a statement by Abdur-Rahman Balogun,
Head of Media and Public Relations of NIDCOM in Abuja on Tuesday.
cheering news to stakeholders on Migration and Diaspora affairs in
Abuja.
Dabiri-Erewa said, Ibrahim, a Cleric, was an innocent Nigerian that fell
victim of a drug planting/trafficking syndicate when he travelled to
Saudi Arabia in March 2017 for lesser hajj.
On getting to the Jeddah airport, he was held, charged, tried in Saudi
Arabia and found guilty despite being innocent before a case of retrial
was granted.
This re-trial which was facilitated by the multi-government
collaboration of NIDCOM, Attorney-General of the Federation and
Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Zamfara state
government came up on Feb. 18, 2020, with necessary documentary evidence
and he was discharged and freed of the allegations of drugs.
Those in the delegation include Barr. Abdullahi Bello, Head, Legal Unit
of NIDCOM, the Zamfara State Commissioner of Special Duties, Alhaji
Mohammed Saddiq Maiturare, a team of Lawyers facilitated by Zamfara
state Governor Bello Muttawale and Attorney General of the Federation.
The documentary evidence provided included a written statement by NDLEA
stating that they have arrested and charged three persons who planned
the drugs on the defendant and a certified copy of the two counts
charge sheet from the Federal High Court Kano.
It will be recalled that in April 2019, NIDCOM in conjunction with the
Nigeria Mission in Saudi Arabia secured the release of Zainab Habib
Aliyu, another Nigerian wrongly accused of drug trafficking.
Zainab’s release came after President Muhammadu Buhari directed the
Attorney General of the Federation to take necessary action on her
detention by Saudi Arabia as she was falsely accused of drug peddling in
Saudi Arabia in December 2018.
Investigations by the Federal government revealed that the drug was
planted in Zainab’s luggage by a cartel that specialises in planting
drugs in the bags of unsuspecting travellers.
