Tobi Soniyi in Abuja


The family of a Nigerian student, Mr. Gabriel Soriwei, who was killed in the northern Cyprus city of Nicosia, yesterday called on the federal government to prevail on the Cyprus authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the Nigerian and prosecute those suspected to have been culpable.

In a press statement issued by the deceased's father, Mr. Patrick Soriwei, Gabriel, (20), was a first year student of Electrical/Electronic/Engineering at the Cyprus International University, Nicosia, in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus when he was knocked down by a female driver on July 13, 2013.

As a result of the impact of the accident, Gabriel fell into a coma and eventually died on September 7, 2013.
“On September 12, the authorities of the Cyprus International University flew his remains via the same Turkish Airline he flew in February to us as cargo for us to clear,” the father said.

The father said even though the family had accepted the reality of the painful loss, his death raised some issues about the value placed on the life of a Nigerian outside the shores of this country.
The statement reads: “First, neither the Cyprus International University nor the family of the woman who drove the car that killed Gabriel has found it necessary to at least write to the family to condole with us on the death of this young man who until his death was contributing to the economy of Cyprus by paying school fees as a foreign student.

“It is also unjust that the authorities of Cyprus are hiding the identity of the woman who killed our child from the family. The police authorities in Cyprus insisted that it was the practice in their country to ensure that such a person was shielded from the family of the victim.

“The police told the father of the deceased, Mr. Patrick Soriwei, during a visit to Nicosia that the Turkish woman lost control of the vehicle which knocked down Gabriel.

“It was however gathered that the woman was drunk even though we have no proof of it.  The police said that the woman was detained for three days and released. There are no records of prosecution.”

The father said investigations revealed that the university which was said to be pursuing the case and which is host to about 700 Nigerian students, had shown lack of interest on the issue.
“Several entreaties made by the family to the school authorities to send the belongings of the late Gabriel to Nigeria have been ignored,” the father said.

He said the matter was reported to the Nigerian Embassy in Cyprus but added that not much has been done to get justice for the slain Nigerian student.
“The best the Nigerian mission in Ankara has done was to send one Uche to the university to find out the cause of the death.

The mission has not rendered the necessary assistance in getting the police to write a report on his death. This delay in writing this report, we believe, is inspired by a plot to subvert the process of justice in this matter,” he added.

The father said he had written to President Goodluck Jonathan, the leadership of the National Assembly, with copies of the letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria, and others.

He said: “While the Soriwei family intends to pursue this matter to the best of our abilities, we urge the federal government and all Nigerians of good conscience to come to our aid in the search for justice over the killing of this innocent Nigerian child.

“The life of a Nigerian child should be treated more decently than that of a stray animal. The situation doesn't seem to be different in this case". http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/family-of-nigerian-student-killed-in-cyprus-seeks-justice/161681/

Read the bereaved family’s full letter below.

[b]11 Patrick Ehime Street,

Off Ugbor Road,

Benin City,

Edo State.

October 14

PRESS STATEMENT

Family of murdered Nigerian Student in Cyprus cry out for Justice

The family of a Nigerian student, Mr. Gabriel Soriwei, who was killed in the North Cyprus city of Nicosia, has cried out to the Federal Government, relevant authorities and indeed all well meaning Nigerians for intervention.

Gabriel Soriwei, (20), was a first year student of Electrical/Electronic/Engineering at the Cyprus International University, Nicosia, in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus when he was knocked down by a female driver on July 13, 2013.

As a result of the impact of the accident, Gabriel fell into a coma and eventually died on September, 7 2013. On September 12, the authorities of the Cyprus International University flew his remains via the same Turkish Airline he flew in February to us as cargo for us to clear.

While the family has accepted the reality of the painful loss of our child, his death has raised some issues about the value placed on the life of the Nigerian outside the shores of this country.

First, neither the Cyprus International University nor the family of the woman who drove the car that killed Gabriel has found it necessary to at least write to the family to condole with us on the death of this young man who until his death was contributing to the economy of Cyprus by paying school fees as a foreign student.

It is also unjust that the authorities of Cyprus are hiding the identity of the woman who killed our child from the family. The police authorities in Cyprus insisted that it was the practice in their country to ensure that such a person was shielded from the family of the victim.

The police told the father of the deceased, Mr. Patrick Soriwei, during a visit to Nicosia that the Turkish woman lost control of the vehicle which knocked down Gabriel. It was however gathered that the woman was drunk even though we have no proof of it. The police said that the woman was detained for three days and released.

Painfully, our investigations revealed that the university which was said to be pursuing the case and which is host to about 700 Nigerian students, has shown lack of interest in the issue. Several entreaties made by the family to the school authorities to send the belongings of the late Gabriel to Nigeria have been ignored.

We have informed the Nigerian Embassy in Cyprus and the mission there does not seem to see this screaming demand to defend of the rights of Nigerians in a foreign country as a priority.

The best the Nigerian Mission in Ankara has done was to send one Uche to the university to find out the cause of the death. The Mission has not rendered the necessary assistance in getting the police to write a report on his death. This delay in writing this report, we believe, is inspired by a plot to subvert the process of justice in this matter.

Consequently, we have written to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the leadership of the National Assembly, with copies of the letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria, and others.

While the Soriwei family intends to pursue this matter to the best of our abilities, we urge the Federal Government and all Nigerians of good conscience to come our aid in the search for justice over the killing of this innocent Nigerian child.

The life of a Nigerian child should be treated more decently than that of a stray animal. The situation doesn’t seem to be different in this case.

Signed
Mr. Patrick Soriwei
Father of the deceased[/b]