Indonesia executes eight drug convicts, including Nigerian with Ghanaian passport

At midnight Indonesia time Tuesday April 28, 2015, eight of the nine people convicted of drug offences and sentenced to death in Indonesia were executed by firing squad, the international media has reported.

Among them was Martin Anderson, also known as Belo, holder of a Ghanaian passport who has been identified as a Nigerian.

The executions took place in Besi prison on the island of Nusakambangan.

Those put to death include Australian, Nigerian nationals, a Brazilian and an Indonesian.

The execution of the ninth convict, a woman from the Philippines, was postponed at the last minute.

Filipina woman Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso’s execution was delayed after a request by the Philippine president, a spokesman from the attorney general’s office told the BBC.

According to the BBC citing an Indonesia Attorney-General’s office spokesperson, the request came after someone suspected of framing Veloso to carry heroin into Indonesia surrendered to police in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Nigeria publication THISDay in a report about the executions describes Martin Anderson, 50 years as a Nigerian who travelled on a fake Ghanaian passport and has been incorrectly identified as Ghanaian. He was sentenced to death in 2004.

A report by ghanabusinessnews.com also indicated that Anderson was carrying a Ghanaian passport, but had Nigerian accent and no relative of his could be traced in Ghana.

Families of the executed flew to Indonesia to wish final good byes to the convicts, but it is not known if any of Anderson’s relations was at the prison.

One other convict, Frenchman, Areski Atlaoui has gained temporary reprieve as he has an appeal pending.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi