Skip to main content

I want to see my son before I die — octogenarian father of man on death row in Saudi Arabia

I want to see my son before I die — octogenarian father of man on death row in Saudi Arabia

Lamidi Bamidele

It was a visit filled with emotion as the entire family of Suleiman Olufemi, a Nigerian on death row in Saudi Arabia, thronged the Lagos office of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission in Lagos to plead to the government of Saudi Arabia through the office of NIDCOM.

Explaining how it all happened, Olabode Olufemi, first son of the family narrated that their brother, Suleiman Olufemi secured an Umrah visa with which he travelled to Saudi Arabia in 2002. According to Olabode, shortly after his arrival in Saudi Arabia, there was a mob action at the car park where he was working which led to the death of Saudi Arabian police. Suleiman Olufemi was among other foreign nationals arrested and he was subsequently sentenced to death sentence while other foreign nationals were said to be freed.

Also read: Court sentences four traders to 3 years in prison for theft

Olabode further said ‘Suleiman has been on death row since 2002 which is 18 years now. Our brother knew nothing about the case being referred to. We are appealing to the Saudi Authority to please release our son’

The father of Sulaiman, Yavinaku Olufemi, an octogenarian could not hold himself back as he was full of tears while pleading to Saudi Arabia Authority to release his son so that he could see him again before breathing his last breath. Pa Yavinaku Olufemi said ‘The reason why I am here today is to plead for Suleiman Olufemi.

He has been a very important son to me. When we heard about this matter I was so grieved that I lost my job. Please, Saudi Authority, release my son, let me see my son before I depart this world’

Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission NIDCOM gave more insight on the case of Sulaiman and efforts of the Nigerian government to secure the release of Sulaiman. She said ‘The case has been on for 18 years. There was a mob action and Suleiman was there. A Saudi Policeman was killed.

There were many people there, but it was Suleiman that was sentenced to death. Others have been released. The idea is that, the policeman that was killed had a daughter of two years d then and until the child is 18 years, then she will decide whether she wants to pardon Suleiman or not.

The daughter is now 20years old and I hope to see you aged parents crying, they will temper justice with mercy.

The Nigerian mission in Saudi Arabia, some Nigerians in Diaspora, the Minister of Foreign Affairs have already intervened and hopefully, they will not kill Sulaiman’.

Vanguard News Nigeria

The post I want to see my son before I die — octogenarian father of man on death row in Saudi Arabia appeared first on Vanguard News.


by Bankole via Vanguard News https://ift.tt/3hv1gbU Best Known Member of the Cabinet Wikipedia
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

UPDATED: Nigeria’s coronavirus cases reach 1,728, fatalities 51

  By David Royal The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 196 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,728. NCDC also announced that seven more fatalities were recorded, bringing the total number of deaths to 51. The NCDC, in a tweet at about 11:55 p.m. on Wednesday, said the 196 new cases reported were; 87-Lagos, 24-Kano, 18-Gombe, 17-Kaduna, 16-FCT, 10-Katsina, 8-Sokoto, 7-Edo, 6-Borno, 1-Yobe, 1-Ebonyi, 1-Adamawa. The virus has spread to 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Yobe, according to NCDC report, is the most recent state to record COVID-19 case in the country. According to the agency, Nigeria now has 1,370 active cases recorded as of 11:55 p.m. on April 29, while 307 infected persons have been treated and discharged, with 51 deaths recorded. READ ALSO: US says remdesivir shows ‘clear-cut’ effect in treating coronavirus “On the 29th of April 2020, 196 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Covid-19: Jigawa records first death

By Aliyu Dangida THE Jigawa State Government has announced the first death  from coronavirus, COVID-19 in the state, saying the deceased, a Lagos returnee,  was  a resident of Fanisau community in Dutse, the state’s capital. He died hours after he was moved to the isolation centre. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Nigeria records 86 fresh cases, largest increase in a day Commissioner for Health, Abba Zakari, said “Immediately after we got results of Jigawa, we swiftly moved to action and evacuated the patients into the isolation centre. Unfortunately one of them came in a very bad situation and passed away.” Mr Zakari added that the state recorded a total of nine cases from eight of its 27 Local Government Areas. The affected local councils include Gumel, Auyo, Gwaram, Kazaure, Miga, Taura, Birnin-Kudu and Dutse. He said the state government has locked down the affected local government areas. This, he said, will aid the health workers to trace the primary and secondary contact...
Post a Comment
Read more

COVID-19: Lagos Govt approves N200m to support FG´s Treatment Centres

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu The Lagos State Government says it has approved the sum of N200 million to support the Federal Government Treatment Centres in treating COVID-19 cases in the state. The State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, made this known on Sunday, in a statement highlighting the update on the management of COVID-19 in the state. “I have approved the sum of N200 million to support the ongoing patient management and treatment efforts of two Federal Government Treatment Centers in our state. “This is in view of the rising profile of the coronavirus disease due to the mutating variants now being discovered globally; and to shore up our containment and management capacity. “To this end, LUTH will be receiving N150 million and the Federal Medical Center, Ebute Metta, will be receiving N50 million. These sums will be disbursed on Monday, February 1,´´ Sanwo-Olu said. He said that Lagos State continued to be the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria and as at...
Post a Comment
Read more