The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refuted media reports that the 23 Nigerians said to have been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for drug offences have been executed.
The Ministry through a statement issued on Tuesday by its Spokesman Ferdinand Nwonye urged the public to disregard the remoured execution.
He said that Ministry is in contact with the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia and it has been confirmed that the story is false.
Over the weekend, 23 Nigerians were reported to be facing execution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over drug related offences.
They were said to have been arrested between 2016 and 2017 at King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Jeddah and Prince Muhammad bin Abdu- Aziz International Airport, Madinah having concealed the banned substances in their rectums, a Saudi document revealed.
The Nigerians were said to have been convicted for contravening the narcotic and psychotropic substances control law, which is punishable by death.
Recalled that few weeks ago the Saudi authorities executed Kudirat Afolabi for drug trafficking and Saheed Sobade, another Nigerian, reportedly nabbed with 1,183 grams of cocaine powder in Jeddah
The Ministry however, said in the statement on Tuesday that it is investigating claims that most of the trials were carried out without adequate legal representation for the accused, in accordance with internationally accepted legal principles.
“Furthermore the Nigerian Mission was not informed of the arrests and trials. The Federal Government is therefore engaging the Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels with a view to finding a just solution,” the statement said.
The names of the convicted persons were given as:
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 Alalaoe Abdulqadir
Fawsat Balagun Alabi
Aisha Muhammad Amira
Adebayo Zakariya.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
