Indonesia Rejects Nigerian’s Plea For Clemency

The chances of converting the death sentence of three Nigerians accused of drug trafficking to life sentence appear bleak, with an Indonesian court’s rejection of Nigerian death row inmate’s legal challenge.

Lawyers for a Nigerian, whose alias is Raheem Agbaje Salami, appealed against President Joko Widodo’s rejection of his clemency plea in the administrative court yesterday.

The court, however, dismissed his appeal on the grounds it did not have jurisdiction over presidential decisions.

Mr. Salami’s lawyer, Utomo Karim, however said that he would appeal.

He will also seek a judicial review for the Nigerian in the Surabaya district court on Wednesday, on the basis the entire prosecution of his case was illegal, because it was based on the man’s fake identity.

A man purporting to be Raheem Agbaje Salami, from the southern Spanish city of Cordova, was arrested in 1998 smuggling 5.3 kilograms of heroin into Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia.

However, Raheem’s passport was false. His real name is Jamiu Owolabi Abashin, a Nigerian national.

Although he was arrested 17 years ago, Indonesian authorities continue to use the fake name in prison on Nusakambangan.

Another Nigerian on death row in Indonesia is Okwudili Ayontanze, a gospel singer, who plays music with prison guards and has released albums from his Nusakambangan prison.

The third, Silvestre Obiekwe, is reported to have angered authorities by allegedly continuing to run a drug syndicate from behind bars.