Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on Friday said that another Nigerian has been arrested in Jeddah airport, Saudi Arabia for allegedly smuggling about 1,138g of cocaine.
In an interview with journalists in Abuja, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said Wahid Somade was arrested on Thursday.
This comes after a widow and mother of two, Kudirat Afolabi, was executed on Monday by Saudi authorities for related offence.
“The sad thing is that in the midst of talking of about 20 Nigerians on death roll, even as eight had been executed, just yesterday another Nigerian, Wahid Somade, was arrested at Jeddah airport with about 1,138g of cocaine.
“The latest one would be added to those that could be executed. We keep appealing to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure trial is fair,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
She pleaded on Nigerians in foreign countries to respect the laws of their host nations.
“It does not matter where you come from, you hold a green passport. Do not let a few people denigrate every one of us,” she said.
The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja, in a statement, said that all legal and judicial procedures are followed regarding accused persons.
The embassy said the death sentence is only enforced after all proofs and legal evidences have been exhausted regarding the accused.
“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,” part of the statement read.
