The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has provided further clarification on the long-running case of Suleimon Olufemi, a Nigerian national who has spent more than two decades on death row in Saudi Arabia, disputing aspects of a recent intervention by Amnesty International.
NIDCOM’s response followed an open letter issued on Monday by Amnesty International to President Bola Tinubu, urging urgent action over Olufemi’s continued detention despite the reported payment of blood money required under Saudi law for his release.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NIDCOM said Amnesty’s letter omitted key facts about diplomatic and fundraising efforts that have been ongoing for several years.
According to the commission, Olufemi travelled to Saudi Arabia in 2002 to perform the lesser Hajj (Umrah) and later visited a friend in Jeddah, where a police officer was killed during an incident. He was arrested alongside others found in the area. While some suspects received prison sentences, Olufemi was sentenced to death in 2005.
NIDCOM explained that under Saudi law, the victim’s family retained the right to pardon Olufemi or uphold the death sentence once the deceased officer’s youngest child turned 18. After prolonged diplomatic engagements and negotiations, the family agreed in 2020 to accept blood money (diyya) of $570,000.
The commission said the demand was made about three and a half years ago and alleged that Amnesty International declined to collaborate in fundraising efforts at the time, despite previously expressing interest in the case.
NIDCOM said it worked closely with the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, led by the Yaro brothers, to raise the required sum. Contributions, it added, included financial support from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, who jointly provided about $150,000. The remaining funds were raised through a GoFundMe campaign initiated by the association during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The commission confirmed that the full $570,000 had been paid into a designated account and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, is currently engaging Saudi authorities to secure Olufemi’s release.
