The Nigerian Government has finalized arrangements for the release of 60 out of the 73 Nigerians imprisoned in Tanzania. According to the head, media, and public relations of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun, these Nigerians were imprisoned on different charges.
Most of the convicts were arrested for alleged drug-related offenses, while a few of the offenses bordered on immigration violations.
Mr. Balogun also stated that their repatriation was made possible by the Nigerian ambassador to Tanzania. Balogun disclosed this through a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, also noted that ever before COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian Mission had been working on repatriation of Nigerian prisoners in Tanzania.
He explained that the mission had been visiting other custodial facilities in Tanzania to check other Nigerians who may be serving jail terms, adding that it had also canvassed for amnesty for the prisoners on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For each of the 73 Nigerians in the prison, the mission had paid 330, 000 shillings (N55,544) as court fees and was always represented in court. The mission had also successfully negotiated the repatriation of 60 prisoners,” Balogun stated.
Below is the full statement on the matter, as released by the Commission.
