18 Nigerians on death row in Indonesia
Written by VANGUARD
Thursday, 06 November 2008
Eighteen Nigerians sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Indonesia have opted for the review of their cases, the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) reports.
A NAN Correspondent, who was in Jakarta, quotes sources at the Nigerian embassy as saying that the convicts’ lawyers had already filed the appeals with the prosecutor.

“They opted for the review of their cases instead of seeking for clemency for fear of being denied the clemency by the authority.

“The Indonesian President hardly grants clemency for drug convicts. Once he turns down pleas for clemency on behalf of convicts twice execution is imminent and automatic,’’ the source said.

He explained by filing for a review of their cases, “they can still prolong the finality of their conviction thus still buy some time,’’ the source added.

The source said the embassy provided appropriate consular services to ensure lawyers plead their cases.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ambassador to Indonesia, Alhaji Ibrahim Mai-Sule, said he was optimistic on the outcome of the visit of the Special Envoy to President Umaru Yar’Adua, Chief Ojo Maduekwe to seek for clemnecy for the convicts.

He said the meetings were fruitful and the Indonesian authority assured the envoy that the request would be given adequate attention.

Mai-sule also said that already there was the two countries have initated some measures to curb illicit drug trafficking and reduce the number of Nigerians in Indonesian jails.

This, he said, included Draft Agreement between NDLEA and the Indonesian Drug Authority, Prison Transfer Agreement and Concluding Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement.