In a case that spans over two decades and intertwines faith, law, and international diplomacy, Nigerian officials have detailed the intense financial and diplomatic scramble to save Suleimon Olufemi, a countryman on death row in Saudi Arabia. The effort culminated in a $570,000 "blood money" payment, assembled through the contributions of high-profile Nigerians like Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Seyi Tinubu, and a global crowdfunding campaign.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) revealed these details in response to an open letter from Amnesty International, which had urgently called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene. Olufemi's ordeal began in September 2002, when he traveled from Nigeria to perform the lesser Hajj (Umrah).
While visiting a friend in Jeddah, an altercation occurred resulting in the death of a police officer. Olufemi, who was present at the scene, was arrested. Following a trial he claims was marred by a lack of legal representation and forced confession, he was sentenced to death in 2005.
Understanding "Diyya": The Islamic Law of Compensation
Olufemi's potential path to freedom lay not through appeal courts, but through a specific tenet of Islamic (Sharia) law known as Diyya (also spelled Diyah). Practiced in Saudi Arabia and several other Muslim-majority nations, Diyya is a form of financial compensation paid to the heirs of a victim in cases of murder, bodily harm, or manslaughter. It is rooted in the concept of restorative justice, offering an alternative to "an eye for an eye" retribution.
In this legal framework, the victim's family holds a powerful right: the power to pardon. Upon receipt of the agreed Diyya, the family can formally forgive the offender, which typically leads to the commutation of a death sentence.
The amount is not fixed by a universal statute but is often determined by negotiation, local custom, or judicial ruling, and can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially in cases involving foreign nationals. This system left Olufemi's fate hanging on two conditions: the victim's youngest child reaching the age of legal maturity (18), and his family's willingness to accept a monetary settlement.
The Three-Year Fundraising Marathon
NIDCOM stated that about three and a half years ago, after extensive diplomatic engagements, the officer's family insisted on a Diyya payment of $570,000. The commission, working with the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia led by the Yaro brothers, launched a painstaking global effort to raise the sum.
A significant breakthrough came when Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Seyi Tinubu, the son of the president, jointly contributed approximately $150,000. The remaining balance was secured through a GoFundMe campaign, initiated by the diaspora community and supported by Nigerians worldwide. NIDCOM emphasized that this critical fundraising occurred during the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and noted that Amnesty International, despite earlier interest, did not participate when approached for collaboration.
The full $570,000 was paid into a designated account and formally completed on July 4, 2024. However, months later, Olufemi remains detained at Al-Shumaisi prison. NIDCOM expressed cautious optimism, noting that Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its embassy in Riyadh are actively engaging Saudi authorities for his final release.
The commission maintains that Olufemi, whom they describe as being "in the wrong place at the wrong time," is being punished for a crime that "cannot be proven that he committed." They have appealed to Saudi Arabia to honor the payment and release him in the spirit of justice and the strong diplomatic ties between the two nations. The case underscores the complex intersection of international human rights advocacy, religious legal systems, and the extraordinary measures required when a citizen's life depends on a price tag negotiated across continents.
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