Tinubu Moves to Repatriate Nearly 300 Nigerians Serving Jail Terms in Ethiopia
By Rita Onuoha
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a high-level Federal Government delegation to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to facilitate the repatriation of nearly 300 Nigerian nationals currently serving prison sentences in the East African country.
The delegation, comprising the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is expected to conclude negotiations with Ethiopian authorities on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will enable the transfer of the inmates to Nigeria.
According to sources familiar with the development, the prisoners will complete the remainder of their sentences in Nigerian correctional facilities once the agreement is signed and implemented.
A Presidency source disclosed that the directive came directly from President Tinubu, emphasizing the urgency of securing the welfare of the affected Nigerians.
"The President has instructed us to move immediately, conclude the MoU, and ensure that these prisoners are transferred back to Nigeria to serve out the rest of their sentences at home," the official said.
Another source attributed the urgency of the intervention to concerns over the deteriorating conditions of the inmates.
According to the source, many of the prisoners are facing severe health and welfare challenges, prompting the Federal Government to intensify diplomatic efforts for their transfer.
The planned repatriation marks President Tinubu's first direct intervention in a matter that has remained unresolved through diplomatic channels for more than three years.
Official figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicate that over 270 Nigerians are currently incarcerated in Ethiopia, with the majority serving sentences for drug-related offences. Most of them are held at Kaliti Prison in Addis Ababa, a facility that has attracted criticism from advocacy groups over allegations of overcrowding, inadequate medical care, poor feeding conditions, and harsh treatment of inmates.
Several Nigerian inmates have reportedly died while in custody. On March 12, 2023, Chizoba Favour Eze was said to have died following alleged brutalisation by prison officials. Another inmate, Uchenna Nwanneneme, reportedly died from tuberculosis on September 21, 2023, after allegedly receiving inadequate medical attention. Basil Lawrence Ilobi also died while serving his sentence.
The deaths prompted renewed appeals from families of the inmates, civil society organisations, and Nigeria's diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa for the establishment of a formal prisoner transfer arrangement between both countries.
In November 2024, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to facilitate the return of the imprisoned Nigerians after noting that Ethiopian authorities had indicated limited resources to cater for foreign inmates. The directive, however, was not immediately implemented.
On April 17, 2025, Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu engaged Ethiopia's Ambassador to Nigeria, Legesse Geremew Haile, urging the speedy ratification of the proposed prisoner transfer agreement.
She maintained that Nigeria had completed all its obligations under the proposed MoU and expressed concern over repeated reports of Nigerian inmates dying in Ethiopian custody.
Responding, Ambassador Haile reaffirmed the cordial relationship between both countries but explained that the agreement was still awaiting ratification by Ethiopia's House of Representatives.
In September 2025, families of the affected inmates appealed to President Tinubu, the Senate, and NiDCOM to expedite the implementation of the transfer arrangement.
Although Ethiopia ratified prisoner transfer agreements with China and Brazil, as well as a criminal extradition agreement with South Africa in January 2026, a similar arrangement with Nigeria is yet to be concluded.
Records also show that Ethiopia granted amnesty to some Nigerian prisoners in 2019. However, authorities noted that several beneficiaries later returned to the country and were subsequently re-arrested for similar drug-related offences.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has, since the 1980s, encouraged international agreements that allow convicted persons to serve their sentences in their home countries, arguing that such arrangements promote rehabilitation and reintegration.
Advocacy groups have also argued that many Nigerians detained at Kaliti Prison were travellers transiting through Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport, one of Africa's busiest aviation hubs. Some groups have further alleged that a number of the inmates unknowingly transported prohibited substances concealed in their luggage, although such claims remain subject to legal and judicial determination.
Your Opinion Matters
Did this news report meet your expectations?
How can we improve our coverage and better serve you?
Leave your comments and suggestions below.
