The House of Representatives has asked the federal government to commence the process of securing the release of Nigerians illegally detained abroad.
The resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Dennis Idahosa (APC, Edo), on Thursday, during plenary.
Moving the motion, Mr Idahosa said several Nigerians were languishing in detention centres across the world without adequate legal counsel or intervention.
He advised the federal government to ascertain the number of Nigerians in foreign prisons, considering the contributions and remittances to the country by Nigerians in the diaspora.
“Many Nigerians are languishing in foreign prisons, some of whom are being illegally detained, while some are exposed to labour exploitation, poor living conditions, discrimination, sexual exploitation and other forms of dehumanizing treatments,” he stated.
He added that “about 16,500 Nigerians who are in prisons outside the country were convicted without legal representation and not knowing why they are in jail.”
The Committees on Mandate on Foreign Affairs, Justice and Inter-Parliamentary Relations were mandated to ensure compliance.