I want justice for my son ‘murdered’ in UAE — Falode

Prosper

ABUJA — TEARS flowed freely from the eyes of ace sports commentator, Aisha Falode last Wednesday as she narrated how her son was allegedly murdered in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, to members of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora.

The grieving Falode, who was accompanied by her lawyer, Mr Festus Keyamo and Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin of Women Arise Initiative, told the lawmakers how her son, Toba Falode, was murdered by the son of a wealthy Saudi business mogul, who has been able to sweep the matter under the carpet using his influence in the UAE.

She said: “My son whom we believe was murdered in Dubai was thrown down from the 17th floor of his apartment at Manchester Towers in Dubai.

“When I got the call, I went there and requested to see the casefile of how my son died. It took three months for us to get a response. So, I went again with my lawyer and we met with the people who gave some verbal evidence and from what we gathered, he didn’t die a natural death and his death was being covered up.

Aisha and late son

“I came here to get justice as a mother. I’m pleading with the Nigerian government to help me get justice for my son and to prevent another Nigerian family from experiencing such.”
Speaking on behalf of the Committee, Rep. Abike Dabiri-Erewa told the mother of the deceased boy of how passionate her committee is about putting an end to issues of Nigerians being killed abroad with impunity.

She said: “This committee in pursuit of this matter tabled a motion on Thursday, March 19 on your son and other Nigerians who were victims of such evil. If our children are not safe in Nigeria and they are also not safe abroad, then where’s the hope?

“For your son, we have obtained some documents from the Nigerian High Commission in Dubai and we must follow up to ensure that those responsible are brought to book. I assure that it will not be swept under the carpet.”

The family lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in his contribution  said:  “I’m giving some insight into the circumstances surrounding the case and why the Dubai authorities are covering up the murder and shielding the culprit.

Facts of the case
“I’m only concerned about the facts of the case. We need to briefly recount the facts. The mother took her son to a school in Dubai. There is a certain Arab boy whose father has substantial investments in Dubai.

“It’s a fact that the boy has been getting away with so many violent and criminal conduct. On  that fateful day, he was seen walking Toba’s girlfriend out of his, Toba’s, house, saying that she had no business being there even when he, according to evidence, wasn’t living  there.

“Later, Toba and two of his friends (a Nigerian and a South-African) went to the club and they met the same boy who was seen making gestures at them. Later that  night, they came back and met the same boy and the white girl on the 17th floor in front of Toba’s apartment with the girl crying.

“According to the witnesses, they started arguing the moment Toba went into his apartment, the Arab boy and the white girl ran back into the room some minutes later and said Toba fell.
“There was blood on his shirt as well as an injury on his knuckle. The  boy gave a confessional statement telling the boys that they shouldn’t worry, that he would only spend 25 years in jail and come out.

“Police took all of them, separated them and charged the others to court for drinking except Faizal, who was asked to go home.
“The police report never indicated any wrong doing by the Arab boy. And there’s no room for a private prosecution in Dubai.”

According to him, his office had sent a petition to the office of the Public Prosecutor asking that the case be removed from that police station.

We are for justice
The Coordinator of Women Arise Initiative, Dr  Joe Okei-Odumakin, in her response said: “We suspected fraud by the Police. We are for justice. That’s why we sent a letter to the committee as well as the President, who minuted on it and sent to the Foreign Affairs Minister.

“We can, by that approach get justice from all angles. We want to send a message that our green passport is respected and we demand to know why private prosecution is not allowed. It’s up to  our government to take it up.”

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