Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Nigeria and Ethiopia have concluded an agreement that will allow more than 100 Nigerian inmates serving sentences in Ethiopian prisons to be transferred back home to complete their jail terms.
The arrangement covers Nigerian prisoners currently held in facilities including Kaliti Prison and Aba Samuel Prison in Ethiopia, where concerns have previously been raised over detention conditions.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, announced the development in a post on her official X account, noting that the agreement was signed with them by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
She explained that the deal is a bilateral Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement aimed at enabling the repatriation of Nigerian inmates currently serving prison terms in Ethiopia.
According to her, the Nigerian delegation was received in Addis Ababa by Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister and senior protocol officials before the signing ceremony.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the agreement reflects the commitment of the Tinubu administration to the welfare of Nigerians abroad and the protection of their rights under international law.
She also disclosed that four Nigerian inmates had died during the prolonged negotiation and verification process, which she said underscored the urgency of reaching the agreement.
Officials said the initiative is part of a wider effort to repatriate nearly 300 Nigerians serving various sentences in Ethiopian correctional centres, many of them in overcrowded facilities.
The agreement is expected to allow affected prisoners to serve the remainder of their sentences in Nigeria, subject to legal and procedural requirements.
Authorities noted that concerns over overcrowding, inadequate healthcare and reported deaths in Ethiopian prisons, particularly Kaliti Prison, contributed to the push for the agreement.
The Federal Government said the process would continue in line with international legal frameworks, while also urging Nigerians abroad to comply with the laws of their host countries.
