Indonesian court rejects Nigerian's legal challenge amid death row
Xinhua, March 9, 2015 Adjust font size:
An Indonesian court on Monday dismissed a legal challenge by a Nigerian, who is facing a death penalty, over Indonesian President Joko Widodo's rejection of his clemency plea.
Judge Hendro Puspito of the Administrative Court in East Jakarta said the court had no jurisdiction over presidential decisions.
"The court could not test the authority, consideration and substance, so that the challenge could not be accepted," Hendro said.
Salami, alias Jamiu Owolabi Abashin from the southern Spanish city of Cordova, was arrested in 1998 for smuggling 5.3 kg of heroin into Surabaya, the capital of East Java province.
Salami, along with nine other drug traffickers from Australia, French, Brazil, Ghana and Indonesia, are expected to be executed soon in Nusakambangan island of Central Java.
President Widodo remained tough on the death penalty for the country's emergency status of drug amid intensive efforts for his clemency from Australia, French and Brazil. Endi