The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that steps are being taken to facilitate the return of over 270 Nigerians detained in Kaliti Prison, Ethiopia. Acting spokesperson for the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed this on Tuesday, noting that discussions on the issue were ongoing between Nigerian and Ethiopian authorities.
According to Ebienfa, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, recently raised the matter during a meeting with the Ethiopian Ambassador to Nigeria. The discussions also addressed the lack of a formal extradition agreement between the two nations. Ebienfa added that plans are underway to establish Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to streamline engagements and improve bilateral relations.
This development comes after a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja on November 14 ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to repatriate the detained citizens. Justice Inyang Ekwo, who presided over the case, issued a mandamus order compelling the two government bodies to act, citing the Ethiopian government’s declaration that it could no longer provide food for the prisoners.
Justice Ekwo stated, “I find that the applicants have made a credible case for this court to issue an order of mandamus to compel the 1st and 2nd respondents to perform their statutory functions, and I so hold.”
The legal directive arose from a suit filed on behalf of the detained Nigerians, highlighting the dire conditions they face in the Ethiopian prison system.
Efforts are being made to expedite the repatriation process, with Nigerian officials actively engaging their Ethiopian counterparts to find a resolution. While no specific timeline for the prisoners’ return has been announced, both nations are working to create a framework that will allow for smoother cooperation in future cases.
