Temitope Arowolo, Nigerian woman who was in detention in Lebanon for alleged attempted murder of her master and allegation of theft, shall be brought back to the country next week, Oyo Reporters has learnt.
The stranded Nigerians are to be returned home from Lebanon with the collaboration of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora and other agencies.
Making this disclosure at the third interagencies synergy meeting on the rising dehumanisation of Nigerians in the diaspora was the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe.
The House of Representatives member hinted that the Federal Government had pledged to secure the release of Temitope Ariwolo and other Nigerians who were stranded in Lebanon.
She said, “I am happy to inform Nigerians that Temitope will be home before the end of the week, and many other Nigerians who want to come home from Lebanon, the opportunity will be provided for them to come home.”
It was gathered that with continuous efforts and pressure by the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora in collaboration with IOM, NAPTIP, NIDCOM, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Ambassador in Lebanon, Goni Modu, Temitope Ariwolo, was released last night.
She added, “The Lebanese Ambassador, Diab Houssam, has assured us of her safe return along with other Nigerian girls willing to come home from Lebanon.”
She stressed that the Committee would ensure immediate relief for the Nigerian citizens who are groaning under severe injustice across the globe.
“It is important to inform this gathering that about 35 Nigerians have been held illegally in detention for more than 45 days in Ghana border town of Aflao, 18 others are held in Abidjan for over two years. Sulaimon Olufemi is on Death Row in Saudi Arabia, currently some of our girls are held hostage by a Lebanese man to mention but a few,” she said.
Akande-Sadipe lamented the demolition of the Nigerian High Commission building under the supervision of Ghanaian authorities, noting that in international arena, such action was an open declaration of war, but Nigeria refused to stand up to the affront.
According to her, the House of Representatives has taken up the challenge to tinker with the nation’s foreign policy to reflect modern realities and aspirations.
She stated, “Nigeria can no longer continue to restrain our citizens from reciprocating the same treatment on nationals of countries involved in these dastardly acts on our people.”
