It is difficult to deter anyone who intentionally decides to commit crime be it at home or abroad. Indeed, Nigerians have been caught in several countries and accused of sundry crimes, including drug trafficking, credit card fraud, internet fraud, armed robbery etc. As the years went by, the number and sophistication of the commission of the crime increased to the extent that Nigerians are targets of undue profiling abroad. Recently, reactions have been passionate since the reported execution this month of a Nigerian woman for drug related offences by the Saudi Arabian government. Also executed with her are two Pakistani men and a Yemeni man. So far, eight Nigerians have been killed in similar circumstances these past few years in that Middle Eastern country and about 20 more Nigerians are believed to be still on death row there.
As if that wasn’t enough, shortly after a set of Nigerian young men were arrested for armed robbery. The robbery was so brazen and stupid that a lot of people wondered what the motive was. The robbery took place in the United Arab Emirate where such offence attracts capital punishment. They got a visa, flew to UAE to rob! Typical of what happens with Nigerians, after the immediate angst and complaining, everything goes to normal until one or more of the others awaiting execution are actually killed. In this instance, the temptation is there to find a lacuna to blame Nigeria for the predicament of these few. Commentators may question how much government gets involved in the process of trying these suspected criminals. Some say it is possible to argue for less punishment or ensure there is no miscarriage of justice.
However, we are careful to apportion this blame. It does not make sense that while at home, government is looking for money to prosecute many cases of infractions; then turn around to go abroad to defend folks who made up their mind on what cause to follow. Yes, the resident embassy will avail them some assistance but let truth be said, it must not be at the detriment of the collective interest of the country. We cannot be seen to litigate in favour of bad behaviour simply to be liked by unscrupulous citizens when the majority of our law abiding citizens are looking up for the same care and support without seeing much of it.
Nevertheless, we call on our embassies abroad to avail these Nigerians whatever assistance they may need (that is if they plead to be Nigerians). This has become crucial considering the fact that with this kind of ultimate penalty, any error of judgment is irreversible. Furthermore, it is our considered opinion that bilateral efforts should be applied in exploring other forms of punishment. This will entail engaging the countries concerned, in this case, Saudi Arabia on the significance of making haste slowly in the application of the law not minding her righteous indignation.
Also worrisome are the talks about the trial not being fair, not just in the case of the recent woman who was killed, but also for most of the convicts since the country is not known to hold open trials in cases that carry a death penalty, with some convicts even tried without a defence counsel. The Nigerian government also needs to look into allegations that airline officials set innocent people up with these drugs which, when discovered, becomes the cause of the death sentence. It is common knowledge that some unscrupulous airline personnel actually implicate unsuspecting passengers in this game of death. It is important, in our view that the airline authorities carry out thorough investigation into this unwholesome practice so as to save innocent travellers from paying with their lives for crimes they know nothing about.
We condemn the get-rich-quick syndrome that makes trafficking in drugs or armed robbery attractive; we believe that it would be advisable to relate more with governments that would show compassion in matters as serious as taking their lives, or a government that would consider pleas made on behalf of Nigerians on death row and agree, in some cases, that they be extradited home to face the law. In the end, Nigerians wishing to travel must avail themselves of the laws of other countries. Nigeria cannot change the criminal justice system of other countries. We can’t go and commit crime and expect their law courts to function like ours. They are more serious with their rules and do not mind to apply it on offenders, especially where the offenders are foreigners and blacks.
