Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Relations and the Diaspora, made the revelation on Friday while spekaing with NAN.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, the clarification became necessary so as to educate the public on the circumstances leading to the execution of the Nigerian.
Afolabi was executed alongside two Pakistani men and one Yemeni man, bringing the total number of people killed by Saudi Arabia this year to 53.
There had been attempts, especially on social media, to link Afolabi’s fate with the activities of a drug syndicate operating at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, which specilizes in planting drugs in the baggage of unsuspecting travellers.
But Dabiri-Erewa said Afolabi did not belong to the list of seven who are suspected to have fallen victim of the four-man gang of hard drugs-planting syndicate.
“There are some people caught in Kano, but those they allegedly gave the drugs to are yet to face trials in Saudi,” she said.
“What we can now do is to prevail on the Saudi authority that those people awaiting trials in their country are among the victims of the Kano syndicate. If Nigeria can do this, through National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian mission in Saudi Arabia, they might not even be charged to court.”
On the widow, she said: “Ms Afolabi was one of those drugs were found on their bodies. They were 20 in number. They are the ones on the death roll, as drugs were found on their bodies, including their private parts.
“In their case, the Saudis do not appear to waste so much time on them. What is on social media that the lady could have been saved was incorrect. There was no way we could have done that. She was found with drugs on her body; just like the other 20.”
Afer Afolabi’s execution, it was revealed that another Nigerian, Saheed Sobade, was facing the prospect of death in Saudi Arabia after being nabbed with 1,183 grams of cocaine powder in Jeddah, a Saudi Arabian port city on the Red Sea and gateway for pilgrimages to the Islamic holy cities Mecca and Medina.
The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria responded to widespread criticism of Afolabi’s execution by insisting that all legal and judicial procedures were observed.
“It is well-known for all those interested in travelling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that the penalty for drug trafficking is the death sentence and the said sentence is applied on all persons convicted without any exceptions, as long as the evidence is established against them, and this is conveyed to every person prior to his trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” it said.
from desertherald.com
She asked for it, of all countries ? What happened to countries with jail term penalties? RIP.
ReplyDeleteAbike Dabiri is essentially a blogger. Her job is bring news on Nigerians abroad.
ReplyDeleteThat's her job dear... She got to do it.
Delete12.20? Google blogging and her job duties , then correct yourself .
DeleteNawa oo,,can't some persons do without stealing.The woman na big thief,see how she's used it to tarnish Nigeria's already bad image abroad.
ReplyDeleteStealing ke? Do you actually read the post?
DeleteI had to go back and read again to be sure my eyes aren't failing me as to what I read in this post and if I can see what the woman actually stole.
Deletestealing/smuggling all na the same to me.It seems like you are looking for me todayWe are less busy so bring it on.
DeleteDid you actually read the post?
DeleteNa wa! Them no dey ever hear word, I don’t pity her, I only pity her kids.
ReplyDeleteShe's a bad mother and a greedy person who didn't think about her children. So if they hadn't caught her, she would have continued and will say she's a successful person? What kind of role model is such a mother to her kids?
DeleteSo sad!!! Why are these people bent on killing themselves? Saudi Arabia of all places... Come to think of this, are these people being hypnotized into doing this? Not for all the money in this world will I agree to carry drugs overseas.
ReplyDeleteTeejay, it's just like some people choosing to go to Malaysia as well. I think there movement is determined by where their cartels are comfortable operating from. May all drug traffickers face thesame fate. May the innocent ones find freedom.
DeleteAllow them, oh. So they can go and die, maybe Nigeria will be better
DeleteIts so sad,now who will take care of the children she left behind???All these drug traffickers will not learn
ReplyDeleteThey will NEVER learn. How do you play Russian roulette with ur life going to such countries with drugs. US/Europe last last lengthy jail term. Not that any is good. Now her kids are orphans.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...rip madam.
ReplyDeleteThose people no dey hear abegi. When u commit, u must do or be given wetin follow am. Saudi? The woman get mind to gree go there for that kin biz. Even if na tooth pick, I no go do biz for there to avoid stories that touch.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone cooperates with their village demons to destroy themselves
DeleteHope others will desist after seeing this
ReplyDeleteWhen there are people to pepper on Instagram? They will still catch some next week.
DeleteNot when baba told you that the jazz he gave you works only for you to find out in a hardway say all na wash.
ReplyDeleteNa wa! Nigeria which way?
ReplyDeleteRip to her
ReplyDeleteWhat happens to the children now?
Did she think of them before she went to carry drugs?
DeleteBravery or sheer stupidity that would make one carry drugs to Saudi of all places.
DeleteQualifying her status as a widow and mother of 2 won't elicit enough pity to convert the death sentence to something else.
No be her fault, na the acute poverty wey these politicians inflict on Nigerians cause am. Her blood is on their hands and their children's children.
ReplyDelete