Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi commended the federal government for concluding a prisoner transfer agreement with Ethiopia. The deal paved the way for over 100 Nigerians to return home and complete their sentences in Nigerian facilities.
Peter Obi described the development as refreshing in a statement on Tuesday. He said every life is precious and that the constitutional right to human dignity for all Nigerians must remain a cornerstone of national foreign policy.
Nigeria and Ethiopia signed the bilateral prisoner transfer agreement on June 10 in Addis Ababa. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu visited Aba Samuel Prison the next day to inform the inmates. Many Nigerians reacted with joy upon learning they would serve the remainder of their terms closer to their families.
Transitioning to his appreciation, Peter Obi lauded the efforts of Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, and their Ethiopian counterparts. He noted that they finally concluded the protracted negotiations.
Peter Obi expressed sadness over the deaths of at least four Nigerians who lost their lives in Ethiopian custody during the delay. He extended condolences to their families. The former presidential candidate urged proper management of correctional facilities in Nigeria to focus on rehabilitation and reintegration.
The agreement reflected ongoing diplomatic cooperation between the two nations. It allowed eligible inmates, many arrested while transiting through Addis Ababa, to return home under agreed legal conditions.
