Former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, has attacked the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) over its statement concerning Nigerians indicted in US fraud list.
Days after the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) charged the founder of Invictus Group, Obinwanne Okeke, over conspiracy to commit fraud of about $11 million, a 252-count federal grand jury indictment unsealed Thursday charged 77 Nigerians for fraud-related offences.
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A statement on Friday by the chairman/CEO of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the actions of a few Nigerians involved in criminal activities are not a representation of the majority.
NIDCOM further said failure to do so could result in the Nigerian government extraditing them if relevant international treaties between both governments are invoked.
Prof Odinkalu, in several tweets, described the statement as “impressively silly”, adding that Nigerians subjected to foreign legal process should be entitled to consular assistance.
He said: “So, #Nigeria now has a Foreign Minister in place. There is also an Ambassador in DC. @nidcom_gov is no substitute for @GeoffreyOnyeama as foreign minister nor is it in competition with him. The Commission will take its bearing from the Foreign Minister.”
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“A country is more than the collection of its parts. There are fundamental obligations that come with being sovereign. It’s easy to claim Chimamanda & Chinua Achebe. It is more ennobling to stand up for the legal entitlements of your citizens even in tough times,” Odinkalu added.
