- Human beings killed by Saudi for same offence this year now 53
The Federal Government on Friday said that illicit drug was hidden on the body of Kudirat Afolabi, who was executed in Saudi Arabia on April 1.
It said Afolabi was among the 20 persons arrested with drugs hidden in their bodies.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Relations and the Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this on Friday to News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
She said the explanation became necessary in a bid to clarify the circumstances leading to the execution of the Nigerian woman.
Kudirat Afolabi was executed alongside two Pakistani men and one Yemeni man, bringing the total number of people killed by Saudi Arabia this year to 53.
There had been attempts, especially in the social media, to link Afolabi’s fate with the activities of alleged syndicates operating at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
The syndicate allegedly specialises in planting drugs in the baggage of unsuspecting travelers.
Abike-Dabiri, however, said Afolabi did not belong to the list of seven who were suspected to have fallen victim to the four-man gang of hard drug-planting syndicate.
“There are some people caught in Kano, but those they allegedly gave the drugs to are yet to face trials in Saudi.
Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud
“What we can now do is to prevail on the Saudi authority that those people awaiting trials in their country are among the victims of the Kano syndicate.
“If Nigeria can do this, through the National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigerian mission in Saudi Arabia, they might not even be charged to court.
“Ms Afolabi was one of those people on whose bodies drugs were found.
“They were 20 in number. They are the ones on death row, as drugs were found on their bodies, including their private parts.
“In their case, the Saudis do not appear to waste so much time on them. What is on social media that the lady could have been saved was incorrect.
“There was no way we could have done that. She was found with drugs on her body; just like the other 20,” the presidential aide said.
She, however, pointed out that in the case of those awaiting trials, the NDLEA could work with the Nigerian mission in Saudi to save them.
“Who knows, maybe if the NDLEA forwards their information to the Saudis that some of these people might be innocent of the crime, they might not even go on trial.
“But we must continue to move fast and in harmony, to ensure that the innocent is not unjustly punished,” she said.
We followed due diligence in executing Kudirat – Saudi Arabia
The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja had explained that all legal and judicial procedures were followed regarding the execution of a Kudirat Afolabi, widowed mother of two, who was executed after her conviction for drug trafficking.
In a statement after the execution, it noted that death sentence is only carried out after all proofs and legal evidence have been exhausted regarding the accused person.
Specifically on Kudirat, the Saudi embassy reaffirmed that all legal and judicial procedures were followed regarding the accused person and she was accorded every legal right before the death sentence was carried out on her.
The death sentence is only carried out in the Kingdom after all proofs and legal evidence have been exhausted regarding the accused, and the process goes through various legal stages until the allegations against the detained persons have been proven beyond reasonable doubt.
“Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs was always in consultation with foreign embassies and consulates in the Kingdom and facilitated visits from nationals of detainees,” the statement read in part.
The embassy also reiterated that the penalty for drug trafficking is the death sentence and that it is applicable to all persons convicted without any exceptions.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not neglect the enforcement of penalties in terms of matters of drug trafficking and is determined to apply the law on any person against whom evidence is established in order to combat drug trafficking and protect its citizens from this dangerous menace.”
Nigeria kicks as Saudi Arabia defends execution
Despite the explanation, Nigeria had condemned the execution of her daughter, Kudirat by Saudi Arabia for drug-related offence.
The widow and mother of two was beheaded by the Saudi authorities for drug trafficking last week Monday.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mustapha Suleiman, during a meeting with the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Adnan Bostaji in the Ministry on Thursday, last week had kicked against the alleged inhumane treatment meted out to the deceased.
Suleiman said that while Nigeria respected the sovereignty of other countries and abhorred the violation of their domestic laws, she would not condone the inhumane treatment meted on the Nigerian national.
The Permanent Secretary in a statement said that the government also frowned on the failure of the Saudi authorities to inform the Nigerian mission in Saudi Arabia about Kudirat’s arrest and prosecution, “only to invite the mission to take the last will of the deceased prior to her execution on April 1, 2019.”
It said, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, therefore, wishes to assure Nigerians that it has engaged the Saudi authorities through their Ambassador in Nigeria, to ensure that the normal diplomatic practice of informing missions of the arrests of our nationals is adhered to, and that fair hearing is given to other Nigerians undergoing judicial processes in Saudi Arabia.”
But defending the execution, the Saudi envoy said it was “deservedly meted out on the Nigerian woman because she was found guilty of violating the Sharia law.”
Drug trafficking, he added, was not permitted in the Saudi Kingdom, noting, however, that Nigeria and his country enjoyed cordial diplomatic relations.
Speaking to newsmen after the closed-door meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Bostaji noted that the law against drug trafficking applied to everyone in the Kingdom irrespective of their nationality, stressing that even Saudi citizens were not exempted.
The ambassador said, “Saudi Arabia is following Sharia law and anyone who violates the law by bringing drugs into Saudi Arabia will be punished by the law.”
“This is because we want to save our society from drugs. So, if we don’t impose our Sharia law on these guilty people we may not save our society. The law is for all people in Saudi Arabia and not only for Saudi citizens,” he noted.
Bostaji insisted that no one could claim ignorance of the law as all visitors to the Kingdom were made to sign an undertaking not to bring drugs to the country before obtaining a Saudi visa.
He expressed dismay over the failure of visitors to obey the law, saying that despite the strict penalties, people brought hard drugs to his country.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Isah Dodo, lamented the “notoriety of Nigerians and nationals of other countries in bringing drugs to Saudi,” stressing that the menace had been going on for long.
He pointed out that the law against drugs was clear, adding that anyone who violated it would be executed “and nobody can stop the Saudi Government.”
Dodo continued, “So all we can tell our people is to stop taking drugs to Saudi Arabia or to other countries where the punishment is execution. Nigerians have seen many people executed in Saudi Arabia and this is sufficient to serve as a deterrent to them but they have remained adamant and continued to commit this crime.”
NAN
