The family of Suleimon Olufemi, a Nigerian, who has been on death row in Saudi Arabia for 18 years, have appealed for clemency and forgiveness for their son from the Saudi Arabian authorities.
The 80 years old father of Suleiman Olufemi, Yavimaku Olufemi together with other members of his family who visited the Lagos office of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, said Suleimon, who went for a lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia in 2002, was accused alongside others of being part of a mob action that killed a Police officer in the kingdom 18 years ago.
According to Saudi Arabian law, the daughter of the late officer who was two years old at the time of the incident , and is now above 18, will determine if Suleimon should live or die.
Meanwhile, Chairman, NIDCOM, has described the incident as unfortunate and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the commission and, the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia, some members of the Diaspora community in Saudi, Amnesty International as well as the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora have all intervened in the matter and Sulieman will surely get justice.
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Suliamon Olufemi, an Electrician, was born in Lagos on 20 April 1978 and embarked on Umrah to Saudi Arabia in 2002.
He was on his way to visit a friend when the unfortunatw incident happened after which he was arrested with some other suspect.
He was sentenced to death in May 2005 following a closed trial which took place in the alledged absence of legal or consular representation or adequate interpretation and translation facilities.
(Editor:Abaje Usekwe)
