It is with a heavy heart and sadness that we received the news of the untimely death of a citizen of Nigeria in Dubai, Mr. Oyamuyefa Alamieyeseigha. It is particularly painful to note that he died in his prime and under questionable circumstances. We send our heartfelt condolence to the Alamieyeseigha family and pray that God grants them the strength and fortitude to bear the loss.
However, we note the swiftness with which the Federal Government responded to this sad and painful news with a call on the U.A.E authorities to fish out the killers of Mr. Oyamuyefa Alamieyeseigha.
However, whilst this action of the Federal Government is commendable, it smacks of double standards. Recall that on 15th of February, 2014, Toba (Tyler) Falode was also murdered in hazy circumstances in Dubai. Recall also that the mother, Aisha Falode took it upon herself to carry out some discreet investigation into those circumstances and has since been crying out for justice for her son. Up till this minute, the Federal Government has not issued a single statement calling on the U.A.E authorities to fish out the killers of Toba Falode. The Federal Government has played the ostrich in the case of Toba, leaving the mother and family grieving alone. The question is, with the swift response in the case of Oyamuyefa Alamieyeseigha, does the Federal Government value the lives of some of its citizens more than others?
More importantly, it must be said that it is the lukewarm attitude of the Federal Government towards the earlier cases of Nigerians murdered abroad like the case of Toba that has emboldened foreigners in foreign lands to snuff the lives out of Nigerians without any qualms. If the Federal Government has shown more interest in the case of Toba, perhaps the precious life of Mr. Oyamuyefa Alamieyeseigha would have been saved.
It is important to note that we have written statements of witnesses who confirmed that the killer of Toba Falode confessed to the crime, and these statements have since been forwarded to the UAE Government, but it is such a shame that nothing has been heard or done eight months after.
We hope this is a bitter lesson to the Federal Government and we hereby re-iterate our call on the Federal Government to show more interest in the quest to find the killers of Toba Falode and bring them to justice.
Thank you.
FESTUS KEYAMO, ESQ.
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