By Shola Abayomi.
The Federal Government has denied online reports that 23 Nigerians arrested, tried and sentenced to death for drug related offences in Saudi Arabia had been executed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson, Ferdinand Nwonye explained that the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia was not informed of the arrests and trials but had however, made contact with the Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels with a view to finding a solution.
Some online sources had earlier reeled out the names of the 23 convicted Nigerians awaiting execution in Saudi Arabia for drug offences.
The Saudi government was reported to have accused the convicts of contravening its narcotic and psychotropic substances rules by smuggling banned substances into the country, which they allegedly concealed in their rectum. An offence punishable by death.
The 23 Nigerians include:
1. Adeniyi Adebayo Zikri
2. Tunde Ibrahim
3. Jimoh Idhola Lawal
4. Lolo Babatunde
5. Sulaiman Tunde
6. Idris Adewuumi Adepoju
7. Abdul Raimi Awela Ajibola
8. Yusuf Makeen Ajiboye
9. Adam Idris Abubakar
10. Saka Zakaria
11. Biola Lawal
12. Isa Abubakar Adam
13. Ibrahim Chiroma
14. Hafis Amosu
15. Aliu Muhammad
16. Funmilayo Omoyemi Bishi,
17. Mistura Yekini
18. Amina Ajoke Alobi
19. Kuburat Ibrahim
20. Alaja Olufunke Alalade Abdulqadir
21. Fawsat Balogun Alabi
22. Aisha Muhammad Amira
23. Adebayo Zakariya
Mr Nwonye, who spoke to newsmen today, added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was investigating reports that most of the trials were carried out without adequate legal representation for the accused, which falls short of best practices.