FG has forgotten about Osamuyi—Chester Aikpitanhi
By AHAOMA KANU
On
June 9 last year, a Nigerian deportee, Osamuyi Aikpitanhi died as a result
of manhandling aboard a Lagos bound Iberia Airline. Nigerian both at home
and in Diaspora under the umbrella of Concerned Nigerians Worldwide protested
in more than 40 countries across the world against the injustice and the Federal
Government ordered an investigation into the incident. One year after, the
Akpitanhi family are yet to get justice. In this interview with Chester Akpitanhi,
the deceased brother who just arrived from Spain, he alleges that the FG has
forgotten about Osamuyi whose corpse is still lying in a mortuary in Spain.
YOU are in Nigeria and June 9 marked exactly
one year since the death of Osamuyi Aikpitanhi in the hands of Spanish authorities,
can you tell me how it had been this past 12 months?
Yes, I have a lot of things to say about my younger brother, it is now almost
one year since my brother died and nothing has been done about it; the corpse
is still lying in the mortuary in Alicante, Spain. The government of Spain
has forgotten about him; nobody talks about him again. Even the federal government
of Nigeria seems to have lost interest in the matter, nobody is talking about
him again and I think that we have to do something to wake up this matter
again.
Can
you feed us with what the Spanish authorities are doing or have done concerning
the issue?
We went to court in a city called Eche almost five times and made statements.
The police men that were involved were arraigned in court. Our lawyer is telling
us that we have to wait for the court and since then we are still waiting.
Nobody including the court is calling up the matter; no burial plans. I think
the government of Spain has pushed the matter aside and it is very unfortunate
especially for a country that prides itself as a member of the civilized world.
The perception in the minds of many Nigerians
is that the Spanish government made some sort of offer to the family, how
true is this allegation?
No, they never made any such move.
Some months back, we were informed that
the Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Ojo Maduekwe was in Spain on official visit,
were you informed that he was coming and had his visit any connection with
the Osamuyi matter?
No, I was aware he was coming to Spain but we received no call from the Nigerian
embassy.
How many times has the Nigeria embassy
contacted you based on this case?
About three times.
The International Community knew about
the death of Osamuyi when a group of Nigerians and friends of Nigeria under
the umbrella called Concerned Nigerians Worldwide (CNW) had a protest against
the manner Osamuyi died in many parts of the world, how do you feel towards
the attitude of the Nigerian government towards the handling of the issue
so far?
When my brother was murdered, the FG showed interest and we were impressed
but few months later nobody is talking about it again and the corpse is still
lying g in the mortuary.
How do you feel about that lukewarm attitude?
I feel very bitter and disappointed.
You just came into the country few days ago
to see your parents, how are they?
Everybody here is very sad and bitter. I have shown them the pictures and
the recording of the corpse while lying down in the morgue in Alicante and
they cried again and again, we don't know what to do again.
Last year when the incident happened the
Spanish Ambassador, Mr. Angel Losada said that Osamuyi was wanted for rape,
murder and drug related offences, can you react to that allegation now?
Those are all lies; Osamuyi is not a criminal, he never murdered anybody and
never robbed anybody. Osamuyi was working decently; he was selling newspapers.
He wakes up in the morning and sets out to sell his papers.
What kind of person was Osamuyi?
He was a very jovial fellow. When he came over to Spain from Nigeria, he was
with me and lived in my house. He stayed with me for almost one year before
deciding to stay on his own because I was married. He was doing his business.
I never received any information from the police or anybody that Osamuyi was
involved in crime.
Iberia Airlines was the carrier in which
this unfortunate incident happened, did it in anyway sympathize with the family
over what happened?
Not at all; I have never received a call or letter or any sms from Iberia
Airline.
What was the pulse of the average Spaniard
on this matter?
Let me tell you, a foreigner is not like a citizen. Whatever way we want to
look at it. For them to come out to apologize to the family of the deceased,
they didn't want to do it because we are blacks from Africa. Think about it;
you arrested somebody, took him to the cell and wanted to deport him and he
died of suffocation in your hands. You tied him up in an inhuman way. The
autopsy showed it and it was very horrible. I saw the marks on his hands and
neck region; I have video images of his corpse and also have some pictures
of him being removed from the Iberia plane into an ambulance. It is very sad.
How would you describe the Nigerian governments
recent attitude to this case?
The FG is supposed to be in charge of this case. If the International Community
is to respect Nigerians, then the FG has to wake up to their responsibilities.
I know maybe Osamuyi is the son of one poor man from Edo State, he is a Nigerian
citizen and deserves justice. The FG has to do something, it is very sad that
Osamuyi who died under the circumstances he did is still lying in the mortuary
and the FG is pretending that all is well. It is indeed very sad.
One year after, what do you miss most about
Osamuyi?
We still miss him; we think about him everyday and we still cry about him.
I still find myself crying about him. That is why I am in Nigeria today. He
is my brother and it is so sad that one day the corpse is still in the mortuary.
We have to bury our brother and get justice for this great injustice.
What is it you are asking for in this whole
matter?
Justice, Justice and Justice.
What appeal are you making towards to the
Federal, Edo State and the Spanish governments?
We want to have our brother buried and we want justice to prevail. They should
come and help us. We are still in pain, it is like a scare that has refused
to heal; it is still a very painful wound that only justice will heal. If
an American or a British citizen was killed, do you think their government
will be sleeping over the issue? We need justice and we will get it.