Human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has appealed for the release of Suliamon Olufemi, a Nigerian from Badagry, Lagos, who was arrested and subsequently put on death row in Saudi Arabia.

Today marks exactly 23 years since he was arrested in the Middle East kingdom.

According to Amnesty, Suliamon Olufemi was sentenced to death in May 2005 following a closed trial which took place in the absence of legal or consular representation or adequate interpretation and translation facilities.

"'Diya' was paid for Suliamon Olufemi over a year ago, in July 2024. Others, prosecuted together with Suliamon, were released after payment of diya. But Suliamon is still in detention,' the organisation said in a statement.

Amnesty urged the government of Saudi Arabia to release Suliamon, just as it called on the Nigerian authorities to intervene now to end the anguish of Suliamon and his family.

Reacting, the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the Nigerian government has been following up on Sulaimon's case.

She shared on X, "You don't even know how the 'Diya' was raised. I, along with some members of the Nigerian community raised 56O, OOO dollars ( yes, fully), which was deposited into an account specifically for this. The Nigerian govt has been on this matter and we are optimistic and praying for his release. While I understand your jumping on this case, get your facts right. All you can do now is join us to complete the process and keep appealing to the Saudi authorities."

ASA