The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed ongoing efforts to repatriate over 270 Nigerian citizens imprisoned in Kaliti Prison, Ethiopia.
“The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, recently met with the Ethiopian Ambassador to Nigeria in the ministry and the issue of Nigerians in Ethiopian prisons was among the matters that were raised for discussion,” the acting spokesperson for the foreign affairs ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, told our correspondent on Tuesday.
He added that though Nigeria and Ethiopia do not currently have an extradition agreement, “There are ongoing plans to have MoUs in place for better engagements by both countries.”
The Federal High Court in Abuja had in a judgment delivered on November 14, directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to facilitate the return of 270 Nigerians illegally detained in Ethiopian prison.
The court order, issued by Justice Inyang Ekwo, responded to a suit filed on behalf of the detained Nigerians.
Justice Ekwo gave the order of mandamus “compelling the ministry and NiDCOM to receive and return the imprisoned Nigerians consequent upon the decision and declaration of the Ethiopian government that that they have no budget for their food.”
“I find that the applicants have made a credible case for this court to issue an order of mandamus to compel the 1st and 2nd respondents to perform their statutory functions and I so hold,” Justice Ekwo ruled.
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