Contrary to the popular
impression that the Foreign Affairs ministry facilitated Zainab Aliyu’s and
Ibrahim Abubakar’s release, it actually failed to move when told of the duo’s
ordeal.
The personal interventions
of President Muhammadu Buhari and the
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, got freedom for Zainab and Abubakar, who were arrested for
drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia. The offence carries a death sentence.
The Consul-General of Nigeria in
Jeddah has taken custody of Zainab and supporting her to perform the lesser
hajj before returning home.
The student of Maitama Sule
University, Kano, who embarked on the lesser hajj in Dec. 2018, was said to be
with the family of the Consul-General yesterday.
According to a source, the
ministry was not “forthcoming” on Zainab and other Nigerians arrested for drugs
until Hon. Dabiri-Erewa drew the attention of the President to it about three
weeks ago.
The source said: “Before Abike
Dabiri-Erewa drew the attention of the President to the cases of Nigerians in
Saudi Arabia, the Nigerian Consul-General in Jeddah, Amb. M. S. Yunusa, wrote two memos to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Chief Geoffrey Onyeama, on December 3, 2018 and February 6, 2019 but
no action was taken.
“No attempt was made by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to link up with the father of Zainab and the
relatives of those with cases. The Nigerian Consulate was just left to its
fate;
“Upon meeting with the President
on the problems at hand, Buhari immediately directed Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa to
meet the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr.
Abubakar Malami (SAN).
“The President later got security
reports from relevant agencies which made him to open talks with the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia. His personal diplomatic ties with the Saudi Government
facilitated justice for Zainab and Ibrahim.
“This background is necessary to
underscore the importance of putting things in order in our Foreign Affairs
Ministry to avert a repeat of this type of challenge.”
In an April 18th, 2019 memo to
the AGF by Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, signed by its Legal Adviser,
Mr. A. Bello, more insights were
provided on Zainab’s travails.
The memo said: “Based on the
complaint of Zainab’s father on 26th December, 2018, the Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Mallam Aminu Kano International
Airport commenced investigation into the case of unlawful exportation of
Tramadol to Saudi Arabia by a syndicate of workers at the airport.
“After a thorough investigation
carried out by the NDLEA, all the
culprits were arrested and six of the seven suspects have been charged to the
Federal High Court sitting in Kano with conspiracy, unlawful exportation and
transportation of prohibited drugs.
“The NDLEA, however, found that
Zainab Habibu Aliyu is not the owner of the second baggage tagged in her name
in which the prohibited drugs(Tramadol) were found.
“The Honourable Attorney-General
of the Federation may wish to note that
the findings by the NDLEA as regard the innocence of Zainab Habibu Aliyu as
well as the arrest and prosecution of the culprits before the Federal High
Court, Kano has been communicated to Saudi Arabia Authorities through Nigerian
Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“We wish also to draw the
attention of the HAGF to Paragraph 6b of Annexure ‘C’ that one Ibrahim Abubakar
is also being detained in Saudi Arabia on circumstances similar to that of
Zainab Habibu Aliyu. Investigation into his case is currently ongoing.
“In view of the foregoing, it is
our prayer that the HAGF uses his
exalted office to prevent Zainab Habibu Aliyu from being prosecuted wrongly.”
As at press time, Zainab was with
the family of the Consul-General, who insisted that she must perform the lesser
hajj before returning home.
“The family and fellow students
are eager to receive Zainab but we learnt the Consul-General took Zainab to his
family and asked her to perform lesser Hajj before returning to Nigeria.
“No one can say when she will
leave Saudi Arabia.”
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