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Court orders repatriation of 270 Nigerians held in Ethiopian prison
By Francesca Hangeior
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to repatriate at least 270 Nigerians who are currently incarcerated or held in detention at Kaliti Prison in Ethiopia.
Justice Inyang Ekwo in a ruling issued a mandamus order directing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NiDCOM to facilitate the repatriation of the imprisoned Nigerians, following the Ethiopian government’s declaration that it lacked the budget to care for them.
Justice Ekwo stated, “I am satisfied that the applicants have made a compelling case, justifying the court’s decision to issue an Order of Mandamus to compel the 1st and 2nd respondents to perform their statutory responsibilities, and I hereby so declare.”
On Sunday, November 17, Sunday Mmaduagwu, Henry Anyanwu, and Leonard Okafor—filed the originating motion on notice. They sued NIDCOM, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), who were named as the 1st to 6th respondents, on behalf of Nigerians detained in Ethiopian prisons.
The motion was filed in accordance with Order II, Rules 1, 2, and 3 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009 (FREPR 2009), as well as Sections 6(6), 34(1), 35(1), (4), and (6), 36, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The suit also referenced Articles 4, 5, and 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, LFN 2004 (ACHPRRE Act 2004), and invoked the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The applicants sought a declaration that their fundamental rights, as guaranteed by Sections 33, 34, and 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Articles 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the CAT, Articles 4(1) & (15) and Article 16 of the UNUDHR, and Articles 3, 5, 6, and 25(1) & (2) of the BPT (General Assembly Resolution 45/11 of 14 December 1990), had been violated by the 1st to 4th respondents.
Additionally, they sought an order compelling the 1st and 2nd respondents to facilitate the repatriation of Nigerians imprisoned and detained at Kaliti Prison in Ethiopia, following the Ethiopian government’s declaration that it lacked the budget for their food, firewood, medicine, and other welfare needs, and in light of Ethiopia’s request for Nigeria to take them back.
In the affidavit accompanying the motion, Mmaduagwu stated that he is the first cousin of Remigius Anikwe, who is currently incarcerated at Kaliti Prison in Ethiopia.
He said Henry is a brother to Chinedu Michael Anyanwu, who is also detained or imprisoned in Kaliti prison, while Leonard is a relative of Okafor Livinus Edochie, who also is in detention in the same prison.
Mmaduagwu stated that upon visiting the prison to see his cousin, he discovered that over 270 Nigerians were being detained there.
He noted that some of the detainees had not been tried, as they did not understand the local language and were not provided with interpreters.
Mmaduagwu described the conditions in the prison as appalling, with any interaction between Nigerians and the locals resulting in severe beatings, leading to the collapse and death of some detainees.
He also said that several young Nigerians, who were merely in transit with visas, had been arrested, stripped of their money and valuables, and subjected to false testimony by witnesses who were coerced into speaking against them in a foreign language.
The Presidency has clarified that former Finance Minister Wale Edun and former Housing Minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa voluntarily resigned their positions before President Bola Tinubu announced their replacements on Tuesday, dismissing insinuations that the two ministers were fired.
Edun, who turned 70 on Monday, submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, citing health reasons.
He paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa on Tuesday, holding an hour-long discussion before departing to focus on his private businesses.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Edun wrote in his resignation letter, adding that Nigeria had emerged stronger and more internationally respected under Tinubu’s leadership.
Dangiwa similarly tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity to serve in the Federal Executive Council.
Edun, an economist and investment banker, served as Lagos State Commissioner for Finance between 1999 and 2004 under then Governor Tinubu.
He co-founded Investment Banking and Trust Company Limited, now Stanbic IBTC, in 1989, and later founded the Chapelhill Denham Group in 1994.
Dangiwa, an architect, previously served as Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank between 2015 and 2022 and as Secretary to the Katsina State Government before his ministerial appointment in August 2023.
Tinubu expressed appreciation to both men for their contributions to his administration’s economic reform programme and urged the incoming Finance Minister, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms with renewed focus and discipline.
The President is expected to shortly transmit the name of Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, to the Senate for confirmation as the new Housing Minister.
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party took a fresh turn on Wednesday as its factional national chairman, Tanimu Turaki, was arraigned before a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory.
Turaki appeared before the court sitting in Maitama over allegations of giving false information to the police. The case adds another legal twist to the ongoing internal struggles within the party.
The senior lawyer, who holds the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him in open court.
Proceedings were brief but closely watched, given his position and the tension within the party.
The prosecution, led by the office of the Inspector-General of Police, told the court that the defendant had written a petition dated October 5, 2022. In the said petition, he allegedly accused one Saidi Mainasara, with “intent to trigger police action” against him. The authorities argue that the information provided in that petition was false and misleading.
Following his plea, the court considered his bail application. The presiding judge granted him bail in the sum of N100 million. The court also set conditions to ensure his appearance during trial, though details of the sureties were not extensively argued in open court.
After granting bail, the court adjourned the matter to a later date for continuation of hearing. Legal teams on both sides are expected to prepare for a more detailed argument when proceedings resume.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan meets President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday met former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa.
This was disclosed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
A reason for the meeting has not been disclosed as at the time of filing this report.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan meets President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Meanwhile, Jonathan has responded to erstwhile Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his submission on his competency during his time in office.
Atiku, during a live television interview, claimed that Jonathan made many mistakes while he was President because he was inexperienced.
“I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but also inexperienced, and I believe that contributed to his inability to manage the affairs of the country, particularly when he was faced with challenges,” he said.
Reacting to Atiku’s statement during the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria awards ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Jonathan said no one who becomes a governor or president would say he did not make mistakes.
He defended his administration, adding that he did his best while in office.
Jonathan said: “So not too long ago, a very senior politician said, ‘Oh, Jonathan was too young and probably that’s why he made mistakes.’
“If I made mistakes, yes, nobody who becomes a governor or a president will say you did not make mistakes. Even when you promote yourself to the level of a god, you become a deity.
“All human beings must make mistakes. I became president in 2010 at the age of 53. I left in 2015 at the age of 58, and they say I was too young. Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?”
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