Tobias Sylvester
The names of the twenty-three Nigerians who are currently on death row in Saudi Arabia have been revealed.
While Nigerians insisted Kudirat Afolabi was only a victim of drug syndicate group at Nigerian airports, both governments maintained she was actually guilty of the crime.
Following Afolabi’s execution, it was revealed that another Nigerian, Saheed Sobade, was facing the prospect of death in Saudi Arabia after being nabbed with 1,183 grams of cocaine powder in Jeddah, a Saudi Arabian port city on the Red Sea and gateway for pilgrimages to the Islamic holy cities Mecca and Medina.
The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria responded to widespread criticism of Afolabi’s execution by insisting that all legal and judicial procedures were observed.
“It is well-known for all those interested in travelling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that the penalty for drug trafficking is the death sentence and the said sentence is applied on all persons convicted without any exceptions, as long as the evidence is established against them, and this is conveyed to every person prior to his trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” it said.
According to TheNation, at least 23 more Nigerians are destined to suffer Afolabi’s fate, having been convicted for flouting the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Control Law, issued under Royal Decree No. M/39 dated 8/7/1428AH, which is punishable by death.
They were arrested between 2016 and 2017 at the King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Jeddah and Prince Muhammad bin Abdu- Aziz International Airport, Madinah.
THE LIST
- Adeniyi Adebayo Zikri
- Tunde Ibrahim
- Jimoh Idhola Lawal
- Lolo Babatunde
- Sulaiman Tunde
- Idris Adewuumi Adepoju
- Abdul Raimi Awela Ajibola
- Yusuf Makeen Ajiboye
- Adam Idris Abubakar
- Saka Zakaria
- Biola Lawal
- Isa Abubakar Adam
- Ibrahim Chiroma
- Hafis Amosu
- Aliu Muhammad
- Funmilayo Omoyemi Bishi,
- Mistura Yekini
- Amina Ajoke Alobi
- Kuburat Ibrahim
- Alaja Olufunke Alalade Abdulqadir
- Fawsat Balogun Alabi
- Aisha Muhammad Amira
- and Adebayo Zakariya
