The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed that over 270 Nigerian inmates are serving various prison terms in Ethiopia, adding most were imprisoned for drug-related offences.
The ministry said this in reaction to a viral video by one Dr Paul Ezike, making the rounds on social media on the alleged plight of Nigerian inmates in the Kaliti Prison in Ethiopia.
In the video, Ezike said a Nigerian inmate reached out to him, stating that they had been maltreated and punished differently for the same crime committed by other nationals.
Responding, spokesperson for the ministry, Francisca Omayuli, on Tuesday said Ezike’s narration was blown out of proportion.
She said, “The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to a video by one Dr. Paul Ezike making the rounds on social media on the alleged plight of Nigerian inmates in the Kaliti Prison in Ethiopia.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers Dr. Ezike’s narration as exaggerated and blown out of proportion, while his assertion of inaction by the Nigerian Mission in Addis Ababa to the alleged plight of Nigerian inmates, is unfair and misleading.”
Omayuli noted that with over 270 Nigerian inmates in Ethiopian prisons, the Nigerian Mission in Addis Ababa regularly visits these prisons to ascertain the well-being of the Nigerian inmates, adding that the Ethiopian authorities have maintained that the inmates are not treated differently.
She added, “Over 270 Nigerian nationals are serving various prison terms in Ethiopia. Most of them are incarcerated for drug-related offences. The Nigerian Mission in Addis Ababa, as with other Nigerian Missions world over, embarks on regular consular visits to these prisons to ascertain and attend to the wellbeing of Nigerian inmates, and in the same vein engage with host authorities on their behalf.
“The Ethiopian authorities, on the other hand, have always maintained that Nigerian inmates are not treated differently from other inmates, Ethiopian inmates inclusive. Scarce resources and budgetary constraints, amidst the growing number of inmates, often feature as the main challenge for the prison authorities.”
Speaking further, she noted, “It is in this regard that the Federal Government of Nigeria, in response to the demands of Nigerian inmates, is in the process of concluding a Memorandum of Understanding on the Transfer/Exchange of Prisoners with the Ethiopian Government. When finalised, this will enable Nigerian inmates to complete their jail terms in Nigeria, where their family members could complement the government’s efforts towards their maintenance in prison.
“This will be particularly beneficial to inmates with underlying illnesses.”
She said the Federal Government had kept reiterating the call for the few unpatriotic Nigerians involved in transnational organised crimes, including drug and human trafficking, to desist from such acts that lead to imprisonment and tarnish the image of the country, thereby subjecting innocent citizens to undue profiling across international borders.
Omayuli added, “Being a transit hub, Ethiopia’s Bole International Airport receives massive movement of passengers and cargo to over 127 international destinations daily. There are, therefore, reported cases of daily interceptions of drug traffickers.
“Sadly, Nigerians have been identified as major culprits. This has contributed to the undue profiling and ill-treatment of a few innocent Nigerians transiting the airport. It is, however, an exaggeration for Dr Ejike’s claims that all holders of the Nigerian green passport are subjected to profiling at the Bole International Airport, which receives four commercial flights from Nigeria daily with over two thousand passengers.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria, through its Mission in Addis Ababa, will continue to engage with the Ethiopian authorities to address irritants in the bilateral relations of the two friendly countries, caused by a few individuals.”