A statement signed by Ambassador Mustapha Lawal Sulaiman, Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accused the Saudi authorities of keeping the Nigerian missions in Saudi Arabia in the dark of the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the deceased, ” only to invite the mission to take the last will of the deceased prior to her execution on 1st April, 2019.”
The Federal Government said it would no longer condone inhuman treatment of its nationals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The statement further read in part:”The Federal Government of Nigeria has condemned in the strongest terms, the execution of a Nigerian national, Mrs Kudirat Adesola Afolabi, widow and mother of two, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for drug related offences.
While Nigeria respects the sovereignty of States, and abhors the violation of domestic laws of any country, the Government however does not condone such inhumane treatment being meted on a Nigerian national. It also frowns at the Saudi authorities for not informing the Nigerian missions in Saudi Arabia of the arrest and prosecution of the deceased Nigerian, only to invite the mission to take the last will of the deceased prior to her execution on 1st April, 2019.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs therefore wishes to assure Nigerians that it has engaged the Saudi authorities through their Ambassador in Nigeria, to ensure that the normal diplomatic practice of informing missions of the arrests of our nationals is adhered to, and that fair hearing is given to other Nigerians undergoing judicial processes in Saudi Arabia.”