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Nigerians deported from Libya relax at the Hajj camp near Lagos international airport, awaiting screening from officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency before being released to their relatives in Lagos.

Libya releases 19 Nigerians

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Libyan authorities released 19 Nigerian prisoners, on Wednesday, leaving 13 others in jail after the country accepted pleas to suspend death sentences on the detainees weeks ago, a House of Representatives release said yesterday.

The chairperson of the House committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the remaining prisoners are being held on the grounds of providing information to the Nigerian representatives who made appeals for amnesty for the Nigerians through the African Union Rights Commission.

"Some of the detainees still in the prison were actually the people who sensitized us on the pitiable plight of Nigerians in Libya prisons before the committee intervention that saw the amnesty and subsequent release of several of them," Ms. Dabiri-Erewa said on Thursday.

According to the report, those being held include Chinedu Orji, Valentine Okoye, Solomon Chkwu Francis, Ismail Monday Ahanwanti and Ibrahim Olawale Jimoh.

Others are David Shedrach, Chidi Adam, Edmond Ojo and Abdulazeez Babjide, Adewale Adeoye, Stanley Okor and George William Emmanuel.

African Commission intervenes

The African Rights Commission in Banjul, The Gambia, on September 9, had requested the Libyan Government to suspend the execution of the Nigerians, citing African Treaties on Human Rights and Death Penalty which Libya is a signatory to.

The release of the 19 Nigerians also comes after Nigerian rights groups made appeals and protests to the authorities in the North African country said to be holding an estimated 700 Nigerians for offences bordering on drug and immigration.

The House committee said it has sent out further appeals to the government of Libya to release the remaining 13 for the amnesty to be complete.

"We appeal to the Libyan government to endeavour to free the 13 Nigerians still being held in prison. We are also calling on the Nigerian embassy officials in Libya to step up this campaign for these hapless people to regain their freedom," the statement said.

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Reader Comments (15)


Posted by TATA on Nov 06 2009

come home and join the pdp boys...nigeria needs you

Posted by oluwagbemiga on Nov 06 2009

Nigeria! a failed state. why wont people run away from a nation that cannot meet its obligation under the social contract, not even ordinary pipeborne water or electricity, yet mansions every where. Dont blame the guys that went in search of green pasture,(not greener, because ours is not green at all, this land is not green)

Posted by nnepapa on Nov 06 2009

It is good that these gays has been released from prison in foreingn soil, they should be tried and jailed in nigeria for tanishing the image of our country.

Posted by Nelson from South Africa on Nov 06 2009

Though Nigeria is failing is not enough reason why some group of gangsters should go out there and tanish the image of the country. If really they were looking for better jobs out there they should have been involve in legitimate businesses and not DRUGS. These guys should be tried and jailed in Nigeria if find guilty. At least this will serve as warning to other whose business is to paint Nigerians as drug dealers outside the shores of the country.

Posted by Adeyemi on Nov 06 2009

trying this Nigerian is an approach been sort for if this guy are found to be involved in offense which are related to drugs and crime.but taking it from the perspective of immigration law,immediately your right to reside in the country expire (visa or permit) you have become an illegal resident in that country ,in this case if been arrested they are tried and been sent to jail in this north African country. the bottom line lie in the government they need to improve more or way to entice Nigerian to stay at home to develop there country rater that move from one cell to another jail in a foreign land ,kudos to abike dabiri she has done a good job,she is a brother keeper

Posted by Samson on Nov 06 2009

9ja, 9ja, 9ja, I was actually watching this guys on bbc one day when they showing illegal immigrants, No be drugs carry dem commot oo, na good live, Nigeria has over 120 million youths with no job, all they do is wake up and roam about the street, they need to find a good life for their self. Me as a person i no dey 9ja and no be drug i dey do. I work for a living as a computer technician, wetin i learn from nigeria wey i no fit chop, na him dey help me abroad. Fix our country first then we will come back home.

Posted by RICHARD... on Nov 06 2009

The question should be why, why do Nigerians prefer going out in drove to other countries, even smaller and poorer countries which in all standard cannot not be compared with our country. Mr. Nelson, your suggestion is quite unfortunate, I assume you are in South Africa, even if you are a professional don't we have jobs for you in Nigeria? What are you doing in South Africa? Why did you choose South Africa? Your contribution simply shows the hypocrisy in you. Let me remind you that the system and way things are done in Nigeria contributed seriously in the unfortunate illegal migration of our nationals to foreign land. In a country where known criminals and people with questionable source of wealth are celebrated instead of prosecuted, a country whose leadership cares not about its citizen, basic amenities are not available in Nigeria, While our thieving leaders continue with there excessive looting spree without check. Most of this Nigerians you are condemning did not intend to become drug dealers in foreign countries, they where simply misled into believing life is better overseas, only to land themselves in more serious problem. The prosecution must start from the top, those thieves in power must be investigated and prosecuted accordingly, basic amenities must be provided for Nigerians and when this happens, our government would have made the quest for illegal migration less attractive, it is a false illusion that has done our country no good. THE JUST SHALL LEAVE BY FAITH

Posted by Igbo boy. London. on Nov 06 2009

Who told you they are gays. imagine this guys reasoning. gosh. can people be this insensitive and stupid. nnepapa or whatever your name is, have you ever been out of nigeria b4? Have you been jailed b4 in exile just because you are trying to survive. Sometimes these cases are too trivial but you are going in for it just because you r nigerian. Nobody likes us over here even our fellow africans yet we always survive. now everyone want to be like us and solicit for the nigerian spirit even the jamicans and the world over. Do not forget that any one can go to jail and that includes you. stupid nigerian. sidon there de eat ngwobi while guys de hussle de send western mama to una make una take the chop. if that guy finally make to the west now you go begin hail am. but now you dey cal am gay. sucess get brothers and sisters. God thank you.

Posted by Nelson from South Africa on Nov 06 2009

Yes Richard I quiet agree with you that our country is a failing state and of course criminals in government are celebrated but is not just enough reason why a true patrotic nigerian should be involve in illegal business I insist. Or otherwise stay in a country when you know that your visa has expire.in their own little way such people have also contributed to the failing state of nigeria.

Posted by ten ten,Nairobi on Nov 07 2009

thanks a million times igboboy, most times i wonder how some people dey think 4 this naija. anybody wey talk say nigeria as a coutry is good is not beein sincere to the God that made him/her.a country that can't account for the number of people that leave our borders daily. how can development come. all sectors even in health centers there is corruption .dont mind the foolish nnepapa, may be non of his relative has been kidnapped. we must continue to hussle for beta thing abroad. it is far better than being here. atleast there is light, water, security, good health facilities, schools conducive for learning and lots more. na God go jugde.

Posted by CHARLES on Nov 07 2009

Our GOVT should see wat other developing countries are doing, Lion of AFrica, yet we still they allow the world dey run down of people, no road, no light, how dem go respect us, dem call names just because our place no arrange, wat will it take to fix? govt why cant you live up to your name "government" we have the best black people, but all based overseas, like my self I am a developer oversea. GOVT DO YOUR JOB

Posted by kenny ewelike on Nov 13 2009

We should be ashamed of ourselves, we are meant to be blazing the trail, and lightening the paths for other African countries but its vice versa, i do not blame them, neither do i blame the authorities, who i blame are ourselves, instead of building and advancing in our development, we find ourselves repairing and repairing year in , year out. May God help us.

Posted by canada dude on Dec 28 2009

may god save my people of Nigeria, we are in poisoned inside the the so called evil government of nigeria, looters. common electricity,pipe born water,good road, which are basic things government suppose to provide for his his people is lacking in naijer, not to talk of housing problem...Nigeria need total revolution.i pity my people, nigeria is completely a failed state..do not blame the guys who are hustling for survival in abroad, its our government that made it to be like that, shame on the legislooters and execulooters of the government etc



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