No fewer than 23 Nigerians are on the death row in Saudi Arabia after being convicted of various drug crimes.

According to a document by The Nation, the Nigerians were found guilty of allegedly contravening the “Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Control Law, issued under Royal Decree No. M/39 dated 8/7/1428AH and is punishable with death penalty.

The convicted Nigerians are:

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. Ms. Funmilayo Omoyemi Bishi;
17. Ms. Mistura Yekini;
18. Amina Ajoke Alobi;
19. Kuburat Ibrahim;
20. Alaja Olufunke Alalaoe Abdulqadir;
21. Fawsat Balagun Alabi;
22. Aisha Muhammad Amira;
23. Adebayo Zakariya.

“Unfortunately, between 2016-2017, these Nigerians were arrested at King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Jeddah and Prince Muhammad bin Abdu- Aziz International Airport, Madinah for smuggling narcotic drugs concealed in their rectums,” according to the document released by the newspaper.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Amb. Adnan Mahmod Bostaji, on Sunday, said sentences are only carried out after the evidence has been established.

He described the legal system as transparent, adding that it works on fairness and justice, adding that about 1.5million Nigerians live in Saudi Arabia unmolested.

Bostaji pleaded with the authorities at all Nigerian airports to implement procedures that will prevent drug smuggling.

He said,

“The legal system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is transparent and only works on fairness and justice.

“Death sentences are only carried out after all evidence has been established, and this is exactly what was done in the case of the recently executed Nigerian woman.”