Abike Dabiri
A
Nigerian woman and two Pakistani men were Monday executed in Saudi
Arabia after a Meccan court found them guilty of trafficking drugs,
the AFP News Agency said, citing state media reports.
Senior
Special Assistant to the President on Diasporan Matters, Hon. Abike
Dabiri-Erewa, in response to the executions doubted the validity of
the claims made by the Saudi authorities.
Speaking
with Journalists in Abuja Tuesday, Dabiri-Erawa highlighted Nigeria's
ongoing tiff with the Saudi authorities over the fairness of their
trials. "So, 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."
Dabiri-Erawa
made an appeal to the Nigerians visiting Saudi Arabia, asking them to
obey all laws because something as harmless as a kola nut fruit is
considered a drug in the Gulf Kingdom. “So, while we appeal to
Nigerians going to Saudi Arabia, we know it is tough, obey the laws
of the land. Even kolanut is treated as a drug. So, we will continue
to appeal to Saudi authorities to treat some of the cases with some
form of leniency."
Since
the start of the new year, Saudi Arabia has executed eight Nigerian
nationals, with the latest occurring on Monday.
“Like
I said, we have 20 of them in Saudi. This is the eighth to be
executed and we are hopeful that maybe we will be able to save the
others. So, it is pathetic. It is tragic but we will continue to
appeal to Nigerians to obey the laws of the land where you
are."“However, we expect the trial to be fair, open and ensure
that justice truly is done because somebody is sentenced to death,"
Dabiri-Erawa added.
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