- $570,000 Blood Money Paid as NiDCOM Seeks Freedom for Nigerian in Saudi Prison
- The payment was jointly raised by NiDCOM and the Yaro Brothers
- Saudi law allows the family of the victim to either grant pardon or insist on the execution
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has appealed to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to grant pardon and release to a Nigerian citizen, Sulieman Olufemi, who is currently on death row in the country.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Olufemi was convicted of murder in Saudi Arabia following an incident that occurred more than two decades ago in Jeddah.
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In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur Rahman Balogun, disclosed that the required Diyah (blood money) of $570,000 has been fully paid on Olufemi’s behalf.
According to the statement, the payment was jointly raised by NiDCOM and Saudi based Nigerian group, the Yaro Brothers, through the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, and paid into a designated Saudi account.
“In line with the principles of fairness, justice and the strong diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission joins the family of Sulieman Olufemi in appealing for his release,” the statement read.
“With the Diyah of $570,000 fully raised and paid, we remain hopeful that diplomatic engagements led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, will result in mercy and pardon for Olufemi after over 20 years in detention.”
NiDCOM recalled that Olufemi was arrested on September 29, 2002, a day after a Saudi police officer was killed during an incident in Jeddah while he was visiting a friend. He was in the country on a lesser Hajj (Umrah) visa at the time.
He was subsequently sentenced to death in May 2005, while other individuals involved in the incident received prison sentences.
The commission explained that with the child of the deceased officer now over 18 years of age, Saudi law allows the family of the victim to either grant pardon or insist on the execution.
“Following a series of diplomatic interventions and meetings with the victim’s family, including efforts led by NiDCOM’s former Legal Director, Abdullahi Bello, the family insisted on the payment of blood money amounting to $570,000,” the statement added.
NiDCOM said the funds were raised with the support of well meaning Nigerians and paid into an account specifically opened for the purpose, expressing hope that the payment would pave the way for Olufemi’s release.
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