FG regrets execution of Nigerian woman in Saudi Arabia

The Federal Government has regretted the execution of a Nigerian woman by Saudi government over drug trafficking.

The unnamed woman was among four people executed on Monday according to a statement by the country’s interior ministry.

The three others were two Pakistani men and one Yemeni man, bringing the total number of executions in 2019 to 53.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, told journalists on Tuesday that the Nigerian government was saddened that some unfortunate Nigerians fall victims of drug cartels in alliance with airline workers.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said the woman was the eight Nigerian to die in similar circumstances and that 20 others were still on the death row, besides 12 more already sentenced to jail.

She said: “We have had cases where truly they didn’t commit the offence. We have appealed to the Saudi authorities to make the trials fair, open and ensure that justice is done. Even if you are going to die, you will know that you die for an offence you committed.

“So, while we appeal to Nigerians going to Saudi Arabia, we know it is tough, obey the laws of the land. Even kola nut is treated as a drug. So, we will continue to appeal to the Saudi authorities to treat some of the cases with some form of leniency.

“Like I said, we have 20 of them in Saudi; this is the eight to be executed and we are hopeful that maybe we will be able to save the others. It is pathetic, it is tragic but we will continue to appeal to Nigerians to obey the laws of the land where you are.”

She also described as disgraceful the conduct of five Nigerians arrested in the United Arab Emirates for robbing a bureau de change and carting away millions.