Nigeria, Ethiopia Seal Prisoner Transfer Deal for Over 100 Inmates

The Federal Government is set to conclude a landmark prisoner transfer agreement with Ethiopia that could facilitate the repatriation of more than 100 Nigerians currently serving jail terms in the East African country.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, arrived in Addis Ababa alongside the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to finalise the agreement, which both countries have been negotiating for several years.

The Nigerian delegation was received by Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the country’s Chief of Protocol ahead of the formal signing ceremony scheduled for Wednesday.

The agreement is expected to provide a legal framework that will allow convicted Nigerian citizens serving prison sentences in Ethiopia to complete their terms in Nigerian correctional facilities, subject to the conditions of the treaty and relevant judicial approvals.

Providing an update on the development, Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that the prolonged negotiations, legal reviews and ratification processes surrounding the agreement had come at a painful cost. According to her, four Nigerian inmates died while awaiting the completion of the transfer arrangement.

“We cannot afford to lose any more precious lives. We are determined to bring home the living,” the minister stated in a message posted on her official X account.

She identified Kaliti Prison and Aba Samuel Prison as the facilities where many of the affected Nigerians are currently incarcerated.

The minister described the agreement as a reflection of the longstanding diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and Ethiopia, noting that the arrangement is rooted in humanitarian principles, justice, and mutual respect between both countries.

While emphasising that Nigerians abroad must always respect the laws of their host countries, Odumegwu-Ojukwu reiterated the Federal Government’s responsibility to ensure that citizens facing legal challenges overseas are treated fairly and in accordance with international legal standards.

She stressed that the protection and welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora remain a major priority of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The minister also expressed gratitude to the Ethiopian authorities for their cooperation and willingness to work with Nigeria towards achieving the transfer arrangement.

The anticipated agreement is expected to offer relief to affected inmates and their families while strengthening judicial and diplomatic cooperation between Africa’s two most populous nations.