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Nigeria Pleads Clemency for Four Countrymen in Libya
The Nigerian government is using all diplomatic channels to plead for clemency for four Nigerians sentenced to death in Libya, the News Agency of Nigeria reported Tuesday.
"We are using all approved diplomatic channels to appeal for clemency, and we are hopeful that our plea will receive sympathetic ears, in view of the excellent relationship between our two countries," the agency quoted a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying in the capital Abuja.
Seven persons, including the concerned four Nigerians, two Libyans and one Ghanaian, were sentenced to death by a Libyan court in May for their involvement in last September's deadly clashes between African immigrants and Libyans in the north African country, said the statement.
The seven were found guilty of plotting against the Libyan authority's leading role in Africa, and of murdering Libyan citizens and of disturbing public order, the statement added.
The convicts had 30 days to appeal against the judgment, but the government did not believe the issue could be resolved through the appeal court as the charge against them was a grievous offense, according to the statement.
"Since they have already been adjudged guilty by a court, we believe the best thing to do is for us to plead for clemency, and this is being taken up at a very high level," it said.
It is reported that a total of 12 people were sentenced to life in prison, while 165 others, among them several Libyans, were sentenced to jail terms of between six months and 15 years for their involvement in the clashes in Libya.
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