• Detainees held in war zone at great risk of death
By Dickson Okafor
Legal practitioner and National Coordinator, Take Back Nigeria Initiative (TBNI), Abumchukwu N. Okoye, has said he is deeply saddened by the worsening condition of Nigerians still being held in Ethiopian jails several months after the Federal Government signed the protocol on the repatriation of prisoners to the country.
Stating that the Exchange of Prisoners Agreement was signed between Nigeria and Ethiopia June 10, 2026, Okoye expressed pain that the Federal Government was yet to give its nod to the agreement. He, therefore, called on the government to expedite the processes for ratifying the agreement and thereby quicken the return of Nigerian detainees in Ethiopian prisons.
When the agreement was signed in June this year, it was stated that the detained Nigerians would return within 90 days. What is the update on this as the detainees are yet to return?
First, let me use this medium to thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Ojukwu the earnest efforts she has made towards the release and return of Nigerian prisoners and detainees in Ethiopian prisons. Secondly, I want to tell Nigerians categorically that no Nigerian prisoner in Ethiopia has returned to Nigeria. I am so disappointed, frustrated and indeed angry with the situation. We have made so much effort at Take Back Nigeria Initiative (TBNI) to get the Exchange of Prisoners Agreement signed between Nigeria and Ethiopia, following the strong legal battle we fought in the Federal High Court from 2024. If the Federal Government had taken necessary steps to ratify the prisoner exchange protocol, the Nigerians jailed or detained in Ethiopian prisoners would have all returned to Nigeria. No single person among them has come back. I made every effort to reach out to the Nigerian government officials here and those in Ethiopia, to ensure the release of the prisoners. The officials made promises that they were working hard to sort out the issues.
Prior to this, we had written a letter to inform the government that the parents and relations were ready to bear the cost of the logistics of bringing them back to Nigeria, if they were going to serve out their terms in facilities of the Nigeria Correctional Centre instead of continuing to experience horrible and hostile condition in Ethiopian jails, which are not meant for human beings. One of them was released because his date of release was almost due hence the Ethiopian government reduced his sentence by two months. When the government ordered his release, he called us. We sent N1.5 million and he added N100,000 to come back to Nigeria. On his return he joined us in the campaign for other prisoners to return. At this moment TBNI has given N2 million to one person and N1.5 million to another person from the money they set aside in case they were disappointed by the Nigerian Diaspora Commission and Ministry of Foreign Affairs when it comes to payment of their flight tickets. As we speak over 10 of them have money for their flight tickets. Even if they complete their prison sentence here in Nigeria they wouldn’t mind. The Nigerian Government promised to return these prisoners, but till now they have not done anything which shows that we don’t value human life in Nigeria. I am very sure that the Presidency is not on the same page with the Federal Ministry of Justice on this issue. I want to appeal, once again, to the authorities concerned that they should allow us to bring back these prisons for the sake of God and humanity. Honestly, the Federal Government needs to explain to Nigerians why the Nigerian citizens in Ethiopian jails are still being held after both countries signed the Exchange of Prisoners Agreement and the expiration of the deadline.
What is the present condition of the Nigerian prisoners?
Their condition right now is more terrible because they were removed from Kaliti prison and taken to the Northern part of Ethiopia where there is war. The war is so close to where they are kept that it may affect them and they may be killed. It is saddening that the Nigerian government has not done the needful till date. We were told the citizens held in Ethiopia had been profiled and their passports taken. A certain official of the government, called Amuda, told us that the government had enough funds to bring them back. The question then is: what is hindering their return?
Have you provided an update to the National Assembly Joint Committee on the Nigerian Diaspora Commission on the case of Nigerian prisoners in Ethiopia?
How can you visit somebody or an organization that sees you as an enemy and therefore not interested in seeing you or talking to you? All the efforts we made to see the Senate President Godswill Akpabio or the Senate Committee Chairman of Nigeria Diaspora Commission, Sen. Victor Umeh, were unsuccessful as their staff described the situation as consular matter. As it appears now, it looks like the government has abandoned them. Therefore, the government has to allow families of the citizens in Ethiopia jails to pay for their return, to enable them serve their sentences in Nigeria. One day in Ethiopia is more than one year in Nigerian prison. This fact is stated in our affidavit, it is in the judgment in court where Ethiopia said they don’t have firewood, medicare and food for the prisoners and have detained them for more than two years after the judgment.
TBNI had planned to stage a peaceful protest at 81st UNGA New York, to call for foreign intervention on terrorist attacks and killing of innocent Nigerians in the North including the return of Nigerians in Ethiopian prisons. Why was it not held?
In the process of seeking approval from international agencies and collaboration with other human rights organizations, we got an assurance from the Presidency that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would intervene in the issue of Nigerian prisoners in Ethiopia after his working vacation. That was why TBNI suspended the planned protest.
We recognise that President Tinubu has been trying to revamp the battered economy he inherited, but that is not the reason the government cannot bring back Nigerian prisoners from Ethiopia as that country demanded we do. I simply don’t see why it is taking so long to implement the agreement between Nigeria and Ethiopia. We call on the Presidency to help because we can afford at least to bring 15 or 20 of them by paying for their flight tickets. When the parents and relations of these Nigerians wanted to raise money to buy flight tickets, the government said the families should not contribute money. So, why is the government still delaying in bringing back the prisoners, most of whom were framed by police?
Why is TBNI interested in the return of Nigerians tried for crime and jailed in Ethiopia?
Our primary interest is that this issue is part of our core objective, which is to protect and speak for those who are oppressed or whose rights have been trampled upon. Some of these prisoners were going for a conference and were accosted because they had some foreign currencies in their possession. They were dispossessed of their money, framed and thrown into prison. Recently, there was a case when an Ethiopian underage girl accused a Nigerian that was going to a conference that he sexually harassed her. The man refused to board the plane. He insisted that he was not going anywhere until the matter was trashed out. At that point, his accusers ran away and the man boarded the flight. Evidence presented in court showed that many of them were innocent; hence there was breach of international law. The breach includes the minimum rights such as medicare. Like I said earlier, one day in Ethiopian prison is more than one year in Nigerian prison. So, we are acting on humanitarian grounds. Even if they are criminals, they are Nigerian citizens. The Ethiopian government has told Nigeria to back its citizens in Ethiopian prisons, the Federal High Court said the government must bring them back and the Federal Government has told Nigerians and the world that they are working hard to bring back these prisoners. The National Assembly and other organs of government such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian Diaspora Commission and the Ministry of Justice are aware of that. The question is why are we flying all over the world like butterflies showcasing what is not there?
Could the delay be because the majority of the prisoners are from the South-East?
I am beginning to suspect that it may be the reason the government is not taking the matter seriously. Otherwise, I do not understand why the Attorney General, chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Nigeria Diaspora Committee chairman are not showing concern. The organs of government should salvage the image of Nigeria. As at this moment, one of the prisoners, Mr. Obasuyi Kenneth Oladimeji is at the point of death. I am not happy about that.