Homeward bound: Innocent O. Udeh, Minister (Consular and Education), from the Nigerian Embassy in New Delhi, calls on Aadibe George, ailing footballer, at Thrissur District Hospital on Monday.
Dear friends,
I just highlighted the cause of a sick Nigerian footballer and his friend here through the Iland blog and some of my groups on Net almost one month ago in the hope that something could be done for these hapless persons, who have lost their lives here in an alien land or someone would come forward to help them to reach their home back. With greatest gratitude, I should say that many of my friends or even unknown persons reading the story on the Net have taken up their cause with many agencies or organisations and even the Nigerian Embassy in Delhi and the UN. I was totally upset and dismayed over the lackadaisical approach of the soalled human rights organisations or philanthropic sections of the people all around the world to save them from the clutches of death. After all, whar is life? Some even questioned my integrity or propriety in taking up the cause of a foriegner duo due to sheer technicalities. Are we all to stay on earth permanently? I felt sad over such inhumane attitude of many.
Now, after a pretty ‘less’ time, the Nigerian Embassy Minister has come to Trichur to visit the ailing Aadibe and take steps to take him back home. I don’t know what happened to them to come so late to the rescue of thier citizens in an alien land. Im reproducing a report published in the Hindu daily dated 23rd June 2009. My post on Aadibe was made on almost one month back.
The Hindu report follows:
The two Nigerian footballers who were released from the Central Jail at Viyyur recently will fly home on Wednesday.
Aadibe George, 32, and Kinstan E. Chukku, 32, will fly to Dubai from the Nedumbassery airport and from there to Lagos, Nigeria's capital.
The legal formalities for their deportation were over and the Nigerian Embassy had issued them emergency travel certificates, said P.K. Kuttappayi, Superintendent of Police, Idukki, who is the Foreigners Registration Officer in Idukki district. His office bears the travel expenses.
Innocent O. Udeh, Minister (Consular and Education) of the Nigerian Embassy in New Delhi, expressed concern over the safe transportation of Aadibe, who was paralysed after a stroke while in jail. Mr. Udeh visited the footballer who was undergoing neuro-rehabilitation treatment at the district hospital.
"It is India's responsibility to ensure that both Nigerians reach safely in Nigeria," he said.
There are 2,500 Nigerian citizens, mostly students, currently living in India.
Santhosh Babu, Resident Medical Officer of the district hospital, said Aadibe's condition had improved and he could be transported to Nigeria with proper medical care.
As he had started responding to stimulation, a familiar atmosphere and language would help improve his condition, Dr. Babu said.
Aadibe and Chukku, who had come to India to play for various clubs in Goa, were arrested by the Kattappana police on December 8, 2007, for travelling without valid documents.
As the Judicial Magistrate, Kattappana, rejected their bail plea, the two were sent to the jail. The Kerala High Court quashed the cases against both on May 26.
Though the maximum punishment for travelling without valid documents is imprisonment for a year, the Nigerians spent 18 months behind bars.
Courtesy: The Hindu
Sad indeed. Thanks for sharing this info.