The Federal Government has condemned
the execution of four Nigerians by the
Indonesian authorities over drug-related
offences, despite pleas for clemency by
President Goodluck Jonathan.
The government, while commiserating
with the families of the deceased,
demanded the repatriation of
the corpses
of the executed Nigerians.
It explained that they would be given
decent burials by their various
communities.
A terse statement on Wednesday from
the Public Communications Division of
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, gave
the names of the executed Nigerians as
Martin Anderson, Okwudili Oyatanze,
Jaminu Abashin and Sylvester Obiekwe.
The government warned Nigerians to
desist from drug trafficking and other
offences.
The statement read in part, “The Federal
Government of Nigeria has received with
deep disappointment, news of the
execution of four Nigerians ─ Martin
Anderson, Okwudili Oyatanze, Jaminu
Abashin and Sylvester Obiekwe ─ by the
government of Indonesia for drug-related
offences.
“These executions have taken place
despite spirited pleas for clemency made
at the highest level by President
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and more
recently by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali.
“The Federal Government wishes to
express its condolences to the families of
the deceased.
“It has asked the Indonesian government
for the repatriation of the remains of the
executed persons so that they can be
accorded decent burials by their various
communities.
“Furthermore, government is committed
to engage the government of Indonesia
and other friendly countries regarding the
conclusion of Prisoner Transfer
Agreements and other bilateral means of
safeguarding the interest and welfare of
Nigerians.”
The convicts were reportedly taken to the
Nusakambangan Island where they were
executed by firing squad on Tuesday.
…Indonesia defends executions
Indonesia on Wednesday staunchly
defended its execution of seven
foreigners including two Australians as a
vital front of its “war” on drugs as
testimony emerged of how they went
singing to their deaths, The Times of
India reports.
Australia withdrew its ambassador in
protest at the midnight executions, but
Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, said
he was merely applying “the rule of law”
against narcotics traffickers.
The seven convicts – two from Australia,
one from Brazil and four from Africa –
were shot by firing squad along with one
Indonesian, despite strident foreign
appeals and pleas from family members.
Brazil expressed “deep regret” at the
execution of its national, who is mentally
ill according to his family, and said it was
weighing its next move.
The condemned men reportedly all
refused blindfolds and sang hymns,
among them “Amazing Grace”, as they
went to face the firing squad in a jungle
clearing, according to a pastor who was
with them.
As the clock ticked down to midnight, a
group of tearful supporters also sang
hymns, embraced and held candles aloft
during a vigil at the port in Cilacap, the
gateway to the prison island of
Nusakambangan.
After the executions, family members
could be seen crying as they were
ushered away by friends and supporters,
an AFP reporter saw.
A Filipina originally set to be executed
was given an 11th hour reprieve after a
woman who allegedly duped her into
ferrying drugs to Indonesia came forward
to police in the Philippines.
The reprieve for Mary Jane Veloso was
hailed in the Philippines as a miracle and
a gift from God, but Indonesian Attorney
General Muhammad Prasetyo stressed it
was only a “postponement” to allow time
for police investigations.
