For Nigerians on death row in several prisons around the world for drug related offences, particularly the 16 in Indonesia, it is ‘farewell’ to the land of the dead. But for the many already jailed, especially the 300 in Indonesia, they must face the law. UCHENNA AWOM writes that Senate wants Nigerians to be more patriotic and also respect laws of other countries.
What could have prompted the President of the Nigerian community in Indonesia to cry out that quite a number of Nigerians are rotting away in that country’s jails? In fact, he informed the 16 Nigerians that they have a date with the hangman.
Not only that, the gentleman gave a rundown of the statistics of the number of Nigerians on death row,? those already serving various jail terms and those awaiting trial for offenses ranging from drug peddling, trafficking and other sundry criminal actions that runs contrary to the laws of their host country.
Ironically, they could have also faced similar fate back home in Nigeria, because Nigeria’s laws frown at such conducts, even Nigeria’s societal mores anywhere do not condone such criminal tendencies. That is if actually they committed the crimes for which they are being held.
Unfortunately, the statistics indicate that there is a mind boggling number of Nigerians behind bars, which paints an unpleasant image of the problem for Nigeria if a small ‘community’ of hers would be languishing in the prisons of just one country.
So, the hapless gentleman, the President of the Nigerian community, is now asking the Nigerian authorities to hurriedly intervene, otherwise the 16 death-row convicts will be dispatched to the great beyond anytime from now.
He was dead wrong to want the country to play America in such circumstance and of course he has received the first shocker.
By now, he and the remaining free Nigerians in Indonesia may have heard that the President of the Senate, David Mark last Tuesday unequivocally asked the Nigerians there to face the music, that is without prejudice to the judicial process.
That declaration, apparently driven by anger and frustration over some mindless and unpatriotic escapades of some Nigerians, may have finally sealed any anticipation of diplomatic rescue for the them, particularly the sixteen Nigerians facing execution by death in Indonesia over drug related offences.
Mark, who spoke against the backdrop of a point of order raised by the Committee Chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Sen. Mathew Nwagwu, over the detention of Nigerians in Indonesia, warned that Nigerians who break laws in other countries should not expect the protection of the country.
Sen. Nwagwu, had in reacting to a media report, pointed out that over 300 Nigerians are in jail with 16 in death row over drug related offences.
He noted that beyond the negative image posed by the activities of Nigerians who engage in drug trafficking, it was appalling that Nigerians still engage in drug related offences in those countries in spite of the stiff sanctions, which is death sentence for such crimes.
He recalled that the 6th senate had deliberated on the issue in the past adding that it took the intervention of the Senate to rescue the Nigerians who had been placed on an execution list in China, Singapore and Indonesia.
He, however, added that Nigeria will not tolerate the maltreatment of its citizens abroad, adding that the country will not hesitate to engage any country in a war that maltreats any Nigerian.
However, Mark cautioned that; “I think there is clear line between an honest Nigerian who goes out there for proper genuine business in accordance with the laws and regulations of the country and those who go there to smear the name of Nigeria. That, we just won’t take. So leave them there, let them face what they have gone for. You can ask the minister if you want, but we have had a proper briefing on this matter before.
“My conclusion is that we have done our best and it should serve as a warning for other Nigerians. The punishment in those countries is death, so if they misfire they face the punishment.
“Unfortunately in the sixth senate we took up this matter and we sent a delegation to Indonesia. I think it was Uche Chukwumerije who raised the issue to Indonesia, Singapore and China and they brought a report back that all the people on death row were people who had gone for trafficking in drugs. And they had exhausted all the legal system possible.
“And it was only that our intervention that stopped them from being killed. If they are still alive they should thank their God. People who go and break laws in other countries should not expect us to protect them.
“We will not allow any Nigerian to be maltreated outside the shores of Nigeria. We can even go to war for it even for one Nigeria if he is unfairly treated. But Nigerians who go out and carry drugs should know the risk they are taking, we will not defend them also.”
Well, the admonition is simply a warning to would be Indonesia bound drug couriers and even those travelling for some genuine business to watch their back, or succinctly, to curb their appetite for quick money. This is because Nigeria may not look your way if you are caught in such a dangerous web.
So, Mr President of Nigerian community in Indonesia, the Senate nay Nigerians would want to receive reports of the number of Nigerians who have broken technological ceiling in that country, Nigerians who have excelled in various fields; Medicine, Engineering, Academics, Arts and several other areas of human endeavour. That perhaps is the news Nigerians would like to hear in this perilous times. Somehow, take heart.
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……Senate bill now raises high court judges to 100 from 700.
The Senate notched up the quest for expedited judicial service delivery in the country last week when the bill to that effect was unanimously passed.
The bill will now incubate and await House of Representative concurrence before presidential assent.
The bill recommends an increase in the number of Federal High Court judges from 70 to 100.
The Bill titled, “A Bill for an Act to amend the Federal High court Act 2005’’, was sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu. It had scaled second reading on March 7.
The quick passage of the Bill was sequel to the adoption of a report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary led by Sen. Umar Dahiru (PDP, Sokoto).
Speaking after the passage of the bill, Senate President Mark noted that with the passage of the bill by the Senate, there will be expeditious treatment of the number of cases handled by the Federal High Courts.
He said, “I hope that with the passage of the bill we will see some level of expeditious trial of most of the cases pending at the moment. And like what one of our senators rightly said, I think if there is a request for increase we are always here. we appeal to the judiciary to try as much as possible to dispense with cases to deliver justice. We sympathize with the judiciary and if there is anything we can do we will do”.
However, a disagreement over the actual number of Judges ensued after the committee report recommended 120 as against 100 as provided in the bill. The explanation of the committee was that the increase was meant to help tackle a wider range of judicial demand failed to convince the senators who voted for the number to remain at 100.
However, in his presentation, Senator Dahiru said the amendment would check unnecessary delay in the dispensation of justice and the development would also lead to an increase in the number of judges for state divisions.
He added that the appointment of more judges would lead to increase in the number of judges per division.
The Committee observed that the Federal High Court at the moment has 34 divisions spread across the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and due to insufficient number of judges there are a good number of cases pending before the various divisions of the Court.