Update on the Nigerian Detained Wrongfully in the US
As a continuation to the Olufolajimi Abegunde saga, the Nigerian wrongfully held in custody by the American government. The last we heard about it was that the Abike Dabiri led team will be visiting him at the West Tennessee detention facility to learn about the situation and act on his behalf, we can confirm that till date, no visit has been made and the Nigerian government continues to neglect one of it’s brightest citizens. Thus, this medium appeals to the authorities to respond to this matter as promised.
Very recently, an American was arrested and detained in Russia on an espionage charge, consulate access was requested by the Americans to see their citizen, if for nothing to check his well being. The consular visit was granted and the Americans promptly went to visit their OWN, in less than 2 weeks, irrespective of their present government shutdown. Mr Abegunde has been detained since February 7th 2018, almost a year and no visit from the Nigerian government.
Other updates to the saga also show that a local judge in Memphis TN area, the city where he is being held, confirmed that Federal authorities around TN area act and prosecute based on racial bias. Judge Fowlkes of Memphis TN confirmed this while trying a gun charge case. The case involved a white man who records say sold an undercover officer 100 ecstasy pills for $800, while his black partner stayed in the car with a gun.
Fowlkes asked why the white defendant wasn’t slapped with the same gun charge as the black defendant since they worked together. The gun charge carries an automatic 5-year sentence just for the black person.
The above case shows that Olufolajimi’s claims of racial mistreatment is valid and should be taken into account. His family wishes to draw the attention of current Presidential aspirants and other concerned Nigerians to look into this matter as Nigeria cannot continue to fold its arms while it’s citizens are mistreated on the basis of skin colour.
To know more about this case or have clarity about the type of person Mr Abegunde is please visit freeefjay.org