Nigeria and Ethiopia ink deal to repatriate Nigerian inmates.

The Federal Government has taken a significant step towards repatriating over 100 Nigerian nationals currently serving prison sentences in Ethiopia, by signing a Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement with the East African country, a move that is expected to bring relief to the affected individuals, including four women.

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This development was made possible through the efforts of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and her Ethiopian counterpart, Gideon Timothewos, who facilitated the signing ceremony, which was a major diplomatic milestone rooted in humanity, justice, and international cooperation.

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The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on behalf of Nigeria, while Ethiopia’s Minister of Justice, Ms Hanna Arayaselassie, signed for her country, marking the beginning of the implementation of the bilateral agreement in line with their respective laws and international obligations.

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According to Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Magnus Eze, the agreement will allow sentenced persons who are nationals of either country to be transferred to their home country to serve the remainder of their jail terms, subject to agreed conditions and applicable laws, recognizing the important role that family, language, culture, and social support systems play in the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.

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Unfortunately, four Nigerian prisoners died while negotiations, judicial vetting and ratification processes leading to the agreement were still ongoing, highlighting the urgency of the matter, with Odumegwu-Ojukwu stating that the government cannot afford to lose any more precious lives and is determined to bring home the living.

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Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged Nigerians living and travelling abroad to respect the laws of their host countries and conduct themselves in ways that uphold the country’s image, while reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerians who find themselves in conflict with the law abroad are treated with dignity and accorded their rights under applicable legal frameworks.

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The agreement demonstrates the determination of both countries to strengthen consular cooperation and promote a more humane approach to the administration of justice, with Nigeria and Ethiopia continuing to deepen cooperation in trade and investment, aviation, security, migration management, regional peace and security, as well as the advancement of Africa’s collective interests in continental and multilateral institutions.

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Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended the officials, legal experts and technical teams from both countries whose efforts made the agreement possible, while Timothewos emphasized the need to further strengthen the strong bilateral relationship between both countries, which spans more than six decades, through continuous consultation and cooperation on issues of mutual interest.

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Also present at the event were Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Ambassador Nasir Aminu, representatives of the Nigeria Correctional Service, and officials of the Ethiopian Federal Prison Commission, who witnessed the signing of the historic agreement.

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As part of efforts to facilitate the process, Odumegwu-Ojukwu is expected to visit Kaliti and Aba Samuel prisons in Ethiopia on Thursday, where many of the Nigerian nationals are being held, in a move that is expected to accelerate the repatriation process and bring relief to the affected individuals and their families.