The Federal High Court in Abuja has mandated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to repatriate over 270 Nigerians currently detained in Kaliti Prison, Ethiopia. Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the directive in a recent judgment, citing the Ethiopian government’s declaration of its inability to provide necessities like food, firewood, and medical support for the inmates. The ruling stemmed from a suit filed by three Nigerians, Sunday Maduagwu, Henry Anyanwu, and Leonard Okafor, representing their detained relatives. They sought an order compelling the government to facilitate the return of the imprisoned citizens.
NIDCOM, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Attorney-General of the Federation were listed as respondents in the case. The affidavits submitted to the court revealed details about the living conditions in Kaliti Prison. Mmaduagwu, who visited his cousin Remigius Anikwe in the facility, stated that over 270 Nigerians were detained there under harsh and life-threatening conditions. Many of these individuals were allegedly arrested while transiting through Ethiopia, dispossessed of their belongings, and falsely accused of crimes.
Detainees encounter various challenges and hardships in the host country.
Language barriers increased the detainees’ conditions, as many could not understand the charges against them or access interpreters during legal proceedings. Some were never tried at all. Torture and abuse were reportedly widespread, with prison authorities allegedly forcing confessions from detainees. Family members often assumed their loved ones had died due to long silence and lack of access to communication. Mmaduagwu claimed that deaths among the detainees were common, with two or three fatalities recorded weekly. Corpses were left unburied or not returned to families in the country. Prison authorities reportedly informed detainees that the Ethiopian government had asked the national embassy to evacuate them due to the lack of resources for their care.
Furthermore, the applicants argued that the detainees’ prolonged suffering amounted to a gross violation of their fundamental rights. They urged the court to compel the federal government to act swiftly, as its inaction had worsened the humanitarian crisis. In a counter-affidavit, the Senate, represented by Chief Legislative Officer Usman Abdulhameed, refuted the allegations. Abdulhameed claimed the Senate had investigated reports of mass detention and mistreatment of Nigerians in Ethiopia and found the claims to be baseless. He described the Social Media reports as unfounded and asserted that the case against the Senate lacked merit.
Senate dismissed the accusations, calling them baseless and unfounded.
According to the Senate, no official communication had been received from Ethiopia requesting the nation to repatriate its citizens. Abdulhameed argued that the applicants had no genuine cause of action against the legislative body, urging the court to dismiss the suit in the interest of justice. In delivering his judgment, Justice Ekwo upheld the applicants’ case, ruling that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NIDCOM had statutory responsibilities to protect Nigerian citizens abroad. He rejected attempts by the respondents to evade accountability, emphasising that the detainees’ plight warranted immediate intervention.
Meanwhile, the judge stated that it was reasonable for citizens abroad to expect their home country to assist in times of crisis. He affirmed that the applicants had presented compelling evidence of the conditions faced by Nigerians in Kaliti Prison and the urgent need for their repatriation. While granting the order for the detainees’ repatriation, Justice Ekwo declined to declare that the respondents had breached their rights. Nonetheless, he underscored the importance of judgment as a step toward ensuring justice and protecting the Welfare of Nigerians abroad.
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Lastly, the ruling significantly burdens the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NIDCOM with the responsibility to immediately address the humanitarian crisis. The judgment reminds the federal government of its obligation to protect its citizens, especially those in foreign jurisdictions facing neglect, abuse, or discrimination. This case underscores broader concerns about the treatment of people abroad and the need for proactive diplomatic engagement to prevent such situations. It also raises questions about the adequacy of existing systems for monitoring and supporting citizens in foreign detention.