By Dayo Johnson, Akure

Some Human Rights Groups have petitioned the National Assembly to mount pressure on the presidency to wade into the cases of 14 Nigerians awaiting death by execution in different prisons across Indonesia and ensure that their liberty and lives are secured.

The President of World Alliance against Terrorism, Violence and Inhuman treatment, Mr Anthony Orunkoya, a lawyer, said that the nation’s national pride will be destroyed if the federal government closes its eyes on the plights of the 14 Nigerians that are awaiting death for various offences in Indonesia.

Orunkoya said that Aside the 14 persons on the death row 31 others who are citizens of Nigeria are currently serving various jail terms in different prisons in that country for various offences including drug peddling.

He hinted that investigation carried out by his organisation revealed that out of the 16 condemned Nigerians, two of them, Samuel Iwuchukwu Okoye and Hassan Anthony Nwolisa were executed on June 28, 2008 while one Augustine Ogbonna died under mysterious circumstance in prison custody in September, 2008.

Others according to Orunkoya are, Emmanuel Ihenjirika from Ebonyi State, Daniel Enemuo who hails from Udin town in Enugu State and Michael Titus, Okwudili Ayataeze, Oziazi Sibamda all from Idemmili.

They also include, Eugene Ape, a native of Nsukka in Enugu State as well as Fredric Luther and Denis Anumona both from Anambra State.

He told Journalists that a petition has been written and sent to the two chambers of the National Assembly and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) appealing and seeking the intervention of the federal government.

According to him, “a lot of petitions had been written in the past by concerned groups to the federal government in respect of this issue. Sequel to the earlier petitions, the President of Indonesia visited Nigeria and assured the then president, Late Umaru Musa Yar’adua that the matter will be looked into. But since then, nothing has been done to secure the release of the people.

“I know certainly that Nigeria has a very cordial diplomatic relationship with Indonesia which could be explored to secure the release of those Nigerians. My brothers and sisters, these guys we are talking about here are currently languishing in jails and they are due for execution any moment from now”.

Orunkoya expressed dismay that Nigeria did not avail itself of the opportunity of the visit of Indonesian President Mr. Suuilo Bambang Yudhoyono to the country to pressurise Indonesia to get relief for the troubled Nigerians.

He further posited that a high level delegation comprising of members of human rights organisations in the country will be sent to the Houses of Assembly of the states of origin of the 14 Nigerians to further increase pressure on the federal government to resume negotiation with relevant Indonesian authorities on the matter.

Orunkoya said, from the information available from Jakata, the Capital of Indonesia, that the rules of natural justice and fair hearing was not strictly adhered to by the Indonesian government before death sentence was passed on the Nigerians.

Also speaking on the issue Mr Mike Akubuwe, also a lawyer, representing Committee for

the Defence of Human Right (CDHR) urged the federal government to expedite action on the matter by negotiating with Indonesia to release the people on humanitarian ground irrespective of their offences.

According to him, by virtue of the International Convention on Human Rights, every person is entitled to his or her life and dignity of human persons and such right is not just a natural right but a universal human right that must be respected by all nations.

He added that Nigeria and Indonesia being members of the international convention must respect the right.

Akubuwe disclosed that findings revealed that the victims were being kept in various prisons in Nusakambagan Island including L.P Kembang Kuning, L.P Batu, L.P Besi, L.P PasirPutth, L.P Permisian, L.P Markoba, Bandung, Bali and Medan all located in the city of Jakata.