After more than 20 years behind bars, Suleimon Olufemi may finally have a chance at freedom following the payment of $570,000 in blood money to the family of a slain Saudi police officer.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission raised the funds in collaboration with the Saudi-based Yaro Brothers through the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia . Major contributions came from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Seyi Tinubu, who together donated about $150,000, while the remainder was raised through a GoFundMe campaign .
Olufemi was arrested on September 29, 2002, a day after a Saudi police officer was killed during an incident in Jeddah, where he was visiting a friend while on an Umrah visa . While others involved received prison sentences, Olufemi was sentenced to death in May 2005 .
Under Saudi law, with the child of the deceased police officer now over 18 years of age, the victim’s family has the legal right to either grant a pardon or insist on enforcement of the death sentence .
Following diplomatic interventions and meetings with the victim’s family, they agreed to consider a pardon on condition that the blood money be paid .
With the Diyah fully paid into a designated Saudi account, Nigerian authorities remain hopeful that diplomatic efforts led by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar will secure mercy and pardon . NIDCOM emphasized that Olufemi was “in the wrong place at the wrong time” and the offense could not be conclusively proven