‘Please Let Me See Him Before I Die’: 80-Year-Old Mother Of Nigerian On Saudi Death Row Begs For Son’s Release
Relatives of Suleimon Olufemi, the Nigerian who has spent about 20 years on death row in Saudi Arabia, have issued a fresh emotional plea for his release, days after the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) confirmed it has paid the $570,000 (about ₦900 million) Diyya (blood money) demanded by the victim’s family.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday, Olufemi’s 80-year-old mother tearfully appealed to Saudi authorities and the Nigerian government to show mercy and secure her son’s return after more than two decades behind bars.
“Have mercy on me. Please, let him be free and come home so that I can see him again,” she sobbed.
“His father died in December and he didn’t even see him. Please, let me see him again before I die. May God help you all. Please, let him come home soon. Thank you.”
Another family member, recalling Olufemi’s life before his 2002 arrest, described him as a peaceful young man simply trying to survive before travelling for Umrah (lesser Hajj).
“Suleimon is a very easygoing and gentle boy,” he said.
“He lived with me and was driving a Coca-Cola truck for an agent near our street. One day, he told me he was travelling to Saudi Arabia. He is not a violent person at all.”
He added that the 23-year wait for justice, since his arrest, has taken a serious toll on the family.
“It has not been easy, especially for his mother, who turned 80 in May. There are many things she refuses to do because her biggest fear is dying before seeing her son. That is why we are begging,” the family member said.
WATCH: ‘Please Let Me See Him Before I Die’: 80-Year-Old Mother Of Nigerian On Saudi Death Row Begs For Son’s Release pic.twitter.com/IEGzL41ivp
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) December 29, 2025
In a statement released on Sunday, NiDCOM confirmed that the full Diyya demanded by the family of the deceased Saudi police officer had been deposited in a government-approved account.
The Commission said diplomatic efforts were ongoing through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (OON), to secure a pardon.
Olufemi, who travelled to Jeddah in 2002, was arrested after a clash in the city allegedly led to the killing of a Saudi officer. He has consistently maintained his innocence but was sentenced to death in 2005.