CHRRD's Conflict Mediation Department Aids Transfer of Nigerian Prisoners from Thailand 

5th August, 2003 - In December 1990, Mr. Christian Odumegwu, a young Igbo man was one among a group of Nigerians arrested in Thailand for drug trafficking.  He was subsequently sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, initially in Songkhla Central Prison; in 2000 he was transferred to Klong Prem Men's Central Prison in Bangkok.  Mr Odumegwu developed deteriorating health during his sentence, under prison conditions that groups such as Amnesty International have reported as very poor, with medical treatment that is often grossly inadequate.   Mr Odumegwu's relatives in Nigeria could not afford to visit him in Thailand, although good samaritans did personally investigate his condition and relayed information back home by post, and funds were also deposited with the Nigerian Embassy (then in Manila) to cover his airfare home, in the hope that he would be granted a compassionate release or Royal Pardon.  During  the 1990s, about 15 high income countries entered into prisoner transfer agreements with the Thai government to repatriate their nationals and allow them to serve the remainder of their sentence in their home country.  Unfortunately, the agreement with Nigeria was long delayed, and in 2002, five Nigerians convicted of drug trafficking were executed by firing squad in Bangkwang, Thailand.

In 2001, Mr Odumegwu's brother, a resident of Ibadan, Nigeria, first approached CHRRD's  Conflict Mediation Department for assistance in expediting the return of Mr Odumegwu to Nigeria on humanitarian grounds.  CHRRD's conflict resolution specialists undertook a letter-writing campaign with Thai and Nigerian authorities, including diplomatic representatives, as well as Nigerian President Obasanjo, and with LEDAP (Legal Defense and Assistance Project) another Nigerian NGO.

Happily, on 8th March 2003 it was reported in the Bangkok Post that Natthee Jitsawang, Deputy Chief of Thailand's Corrections Department had announced that 338 Nigerians who had served a minimum of four years of their sentences (eight years in the case of life sentences) in Thailand would be flown back to Nigeria at the end of the month, at the Nigerian government's expense.  Mr Odumegwu was among this group, and transferred to a Nigerian prison in Keffi, Nasarawa State, where he was finally reunited with members of his family after twelve years, include his brother.  As of August, 2003, Mr Odumegwu has been transferred to a prison in Umuahia, Abia State, closer to his home, and there is hope that the Nigerian government will authorise his final release from prison before Christmas 2003.

Nigerians represent the largest group from approximately 2,000 non-Asian prisoners being held in Thai prisons, and it is estimated that 99% have been convicted on drug-related charges.