The Federal Government has signed a prisoner transfer agreement with Ethiopia that will enable more than 100 Nigerians serving jail terms in the East African country to complete their sentences in Nigeria.
The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa on Wednesday as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts by both countries to strengthen judicial cooperation and address the welfare of their citizens.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, announced the development in a statement, noting that the agreement would facilitate the transfer of Nigerian inmates from Ethiopian prisons to correctional facilities in Nigeria.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu travelled to the Ethiopian capital alongside the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to formalise the arrangement. The Nigerian delegation was received by Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the country’s Chief of Protocol.
“The signature ceremony takes place this afternoon,” the minister had stated ahead of the formal signing.
The delegation departed Nigeria on Tuesday following a directive from President Bola Tinubu for the immediate repatriation of Nigerian nationals serving prison sentences in Ethiopia.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in efforts by the Nigerian government to secure the transfer of its citizens detained abroad and ensure they serve the remainder of their sentences closer to their families and support networks.
Speaking on the importance of the deal, Odumegwu-Ojukwu recalled that negotiations had faced delays due to the slow pace of administrative and legal processes on the Ethiopian side.
According to the minister, the prolonged delay had tragic consequences, with four Nigerian inmates reportedly dying while awaiting the conclusion of negotiations, judicial reviews and ratification procedures.
“Four Nigerian prisoners have died within the time frame it has taken for the negotiations, judicial vetting and this final ratification process,” she said.
She stressed the urgency of concluding the agreement, noting that Nigeria could not afford to lose any more of its citizens in foreign custody.
“We are determined to bring home the living. The agreement we signed today is rooted in the principles of humanity, justice and cooperation between our two nations,” she added.
The prisoner transfer arrangement is expected to pave the way for the relocation of affected inmates in accordance with the legal frameworks and procedures agreed upon by both countries.
The development underscores the growing diplomatic and judicial cooperation between Nigeria and Ethiopia, while highlighting the Nigerian government’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens abroad.