THE Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa has expressed contentment over the ruling of a Durban Court in South Africa which found a South African Police Officer guilty of killing a Nigerian man.
Shyam Ganda, a South African judge of Durban Court in South Africa found the Police Officer, Austin Luciano Reynold guilty of robbing and shooting Ebuka Okoli, a Nigerian in South Africa at close range.
In a statement signed by NIDCOM Head of Media and Public Relations Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa said the commission is glad that there has to be consequences for actions and that the commission is glad that the case finally came to an end.
She added that the decision of the court has demonstrated South Africa’s political will to deal with xenophobia in the country.
Dabiri implored Nigerians in South Africa to adhere to President Muhammadu Buhari’s admonition to be the best wherever they find themselves.
The Chairman added that Nigeria and South Africa will continuously work at a United Africa while those who perpetrate crime irrespective of their nationality should face the penalty for their actions.
Dabiri-Erewa commended the Nigerian Mission in Johannesburg for painstakingly following through with the case and other cases involving Nigerians.
The Consul General of Nigeria in South Africa, Godwin Adama also said that he was happy that the case came to an end on Friday with judgment pronounced on the guilty police officer.
He noted how his deputy, M.J. Sambo has been at the court with the Provincial Chairman of NICASA and members of the Nigerian Community in Durban, Kwazulu Natal Province.
He disclosed that the second case of 8 policemen being tried for the murder of a Nigerian, Ibrahim Olamilekan Badmus, was adjourned till April 2020 for final ruling due to some technical issues adding that he is optimistic that judgment in other matters will also be in favour of Nigeria.
Lukman Abolade is an Investigative reporter with The ICIR. Reach out to him via [email protected], on twitter @AboladeLAA and FB @Correction94