Hon. Abike Dabiri, Chairperson House committee on Diaspora
The Nigerian House of Representatives panel has recommended strict administrative sanctions for Mr. S. Yusuf, the consular officer in the Nigerian embassy in Ukraine for “apparent display of lack of concern to a fellow citizen” who was recently stabbed to death in Lviv, Ukraine.
The lawmakers also advised the Nigerian government to adequately compensate the family of late Sefiu Saludeen, especially his 4 months old son in order to reduce the sufferings of the family.
These recommendations are contained in the report of the House committees on Diaspora, Foreign Affairs, and Justice which was recently submitted to the house by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Until his death, late Sefiu Saludeen was a legal immigrant in Ukraine and a rising star footballer who had just been engaged by one of the best football club in the country.
The late Nigerian was unfortunately stabbed to death by a Ukrainian at about 8 pm Sunday 18 January, 2009. According to the report, on hearing the sad news, the father of late Sefiu “placed a distressed call to the Nigerian embassy in Ukraine without success adding that the embassy only answered his call after a protest march by the Nigerian students in Ukraine”. The father of the deceased also disclosed that the embassy only called late Sefiu’s widow (a Ukrainian) to offer their condolence 12 days after the incident.
While blaming the Nigerian embassy in Ukraine for displaying lack of concern for the plight of late Sefiu, the House panel submitted that “the insistence to bury the deceased according to Muslim rites is not an excuse for the embassy’s inability to procure autopsy report as essential evidential material for the murder case.
The report which was made available to African Examiner in Abuja enjoined Nigerian Ambassadors and officials to always respond promptly and passionately to the well being of Nigerian citizens in their area of posting.
“The late Sefiu should be commended as good ambassador of Nigeria as well as Nigerian students for their exemplary and patriotic behaviour in fighting for the interest of Nigerians irrespective of their place of abode,” the report concludes.
By Oludare Sunday Fase/ Editor, African Examiner
It is a shame that our government officials still see Nigerians as enemy of state like it was in the colonial and military era. The problem is lack of empathy for fellow citizens. Government officilas often corrupt always think about monetary gain from citizens they are paid to serve. So, if a law abiding citizen fails to grease the palm of an official, he/she suffers neglect or even death as seen in this Ukraine incident. This applies to all governmental agencies at all level. What a shameful and pervert culture.
I think consular’s officers or ambassadors who show lack of sensitivity to plight of Nigerians in their area of coverage should be shown the way out.
May his soul rest in peace. Adieu Sefiu.