Agreement between Ethiopia and Nigeria on prisoner exchange

Written by: Ayman Ragab

Nigeria has signed an agreement with Ethiopia stating that it will repatriate more than 100 prisoners convicted of various crimes.

The Nigerian government said that transferring these prisoners, who are serving their sentences in favor of Ethiopia, took some time, but they were in the process of completing the procedures to bring them home.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Bianca Odumejo-Ojukwu stated that more than 100 Nigerian prisoners are currently suffering in Ethiopian prisons, according to the BBC.“

She stated that there are two prisons in Ethiopia to which prisoners will be transferred to Nigeria.

“Your country will not abandon you, your president knows you are here,” said the Nigerian Foreign Minister when she visited some Ethiopian prisoners.

Nigerian prisoners in Ethiopia

According to Bianca, these prisoners will return to Nigeria “to serve the remainder of their sentences, in accordance with the prisoner transfer agreement.”.

The minister stated that the prisoners were happy to be released from the Ethiopian prison. In the video she posted on her page, the prisoners appear expressing their happiness.

However, Nigerians are wondering why there are so many Nigerians in Ethiopian prisons.

The prisoners were exchanged between two prisons, Quality Prison and Abba Samuel Prison.

According to the report, Kaleti Prison is a high-security correctional facility in Ethiopia. It is where political prisoners are held, as well as many foreign prisoners, including hundreds of Nigerians residing there.

Aba Samuel Prison is another major correctional facility in Ethiopia that houses prisoners serving their sentences.

However, data in the World Prisons Brief from the Crime and Justice Policy Research Institute in London indicates that Ethiopia had approximately 110,000 prisoners in 2020, including those on trial.

The foreign ministers of Ethiopia and Nigeria believe that the agreement represents good cooperation and humanitarian justice between the two countries.

The documents for the transfer of a convicted person were signed by the Nigerian Minister of Justice, Latif Fagbeme, and the Ethiopian Minister of Justice, Hanna Araya Selassie.

However, there are still many unclear aspects regarding the transfer of prisoners from Ethiopia to Nigeria.

Why did Nigeria and Ethiopia agree to transfer the prisoners?

The Nigerian government said that the “Convicted Persons Transfer Agreement” is a bilateral agreement between the two countries.

One of the big questions is why the prisoner exchange is taking place at this time and why it is necessary for Nigeria and Ethiopia.

According to the Nigerian Foreign Minister, this transfer of prisoners is part of the government's concern for the welfare and protection of Nigerian citizens living abroad.

She added that the agreement is based on “the principles of humanity, justice and cooperation between our two countries.”.

Meanwhile, she said that four Nigerian prisoners died in custody during the start of negotiations and legal proceedings for the agreement.

“We cannot afford to lose any more precious lives. We are determined to bring the survivors home. Many people are in critical condition and need better care and medical assistance,” said the Nigerian Foreign Minister.

On the other hand, the Ethiopian Federal Prisons Commission says the agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

According to the prison commissioner, General Yenos Mollo, the agreement is to transfer these prisoners who are guilty of committing their crimes.

“An agreement was reached to enhance cooperation in the field of justice and to transfer 94 Nigerian prisoners convicted by the Federal Prisons Commission to their country.”

While Nigeria says it will repatriate more than 100 Nigerian prisoners, Ethiopia says it will repatriate 94 prisoners.

The Nigerian government explained that the prisoners would return to Nigeria to complete their prison terms.

BBC Pidgin contacted the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice for more details on the transfer of the prisoners to Nigeria, including what crimes they were accused of.