Indonesia admits error in 2016 execution of Nigerian drug convict

Indonesia admits error in 2016 execution of Nigerian drug convict

A year after Humphrey Jefferson Ejike Eleweke, a Nigerian, was executed for drug trafficking, the Indonesian Ombudsman has admitted that there was “maladministration” in the execution.

According to Jakatar Post, Ninik Rahayu, Ombudsman Commissioner, told a press briefing on Friday that there had been “negligence and discrimination practised by the Attorney-General’s Office and the Supreme Court” in relation to Eleweke, who was executed in Central Java on July 29, 206, for drug crimes.

This corroborates Eleweke’s claim, before his execution alongside three others, that they were marked for death because they “are black people”.

“The Indonesian government just hate us, they want to kill us because we are black,” Eleweke had said.

Ninik said the execution of Eleweke did not comply with regulations. The execution took place while the convict was seeking clemency, she said.

Indonesia’s 2002 law on clemency stipulates that the execution of those seeking clemency cannot be carried out before the issuance of a presidential decree in relation to the appeal.

Another sign of maladministration, Ninik said, was that the Supreme Court was guilty of discrimination by rejecting a case review appeal filed by Eleweke without “a proper explanation”.

Eleweke was one of four drug convicts executed on July 29 last year, along with countryman Michael Titus Igweh, Indonesian Freddy Budiman and Senegalese Seck Osmane.

Attorney-General Muhammad Prasetyo said earlier this year that the government was mulling over carrying out a fourth batch of executions under the administration of President Joko Widodo.

Widodo refused to grant clemency to Eleweke and others despite appeals from the international community.