FBI ARREST: Not A Reflection Of Who Nigerians Are
The action of the 77 Nigerians described by the U.S. as the highest financial crime in its history and which led to their recent indictment by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is something that should be condemned but with careful scrutiny.
The point I am making is that this high profile case should be given the needed indepth analysis as to serve justice to those who are deserving of it. In making this necessary effort of serving justice to those deserving of it, it would help to clearly exonerate those who are not culpable, but who by whatever stint have been hewn in the web of indictment.
It is as such very necessary also that those of the 77 persons listed in the damning report and who as it is have been declared wanted should submit themselves to the relevant agency to afford them the leverage to do the required scrutiny and unmasked their genuine involvement or not.
They must understand that, even as reprehensible the crime they've been accused of is and even as worrisome as their perceived involvement could be- just as clearly it should- to them and to us, their willingness to step up and hand themselves over, would help mitigate the oft situations where some innocent victims suffer the same fate with those who have soiled their hands.
If they believe and know that they are not culpable, their listing is not an outright conviction for culpability but would be an error that would need to be corrected. The point being that they are just innocent until the substantial evidences are able to prove them guilty.
However, it is an act condemnable and which should be vehemently condemned that people have made it a trade to defraud hardworking and unsuspecting individuals of the rewards of their sweat and labour. It is indeed so unfortunate that this insensitive and dehumanising act of debauchery is perpetrated by fellow countrymen. At this stage in time, it would feel just saddening to be identified as a Nigerian. Not as if the image of this nation has been that welcoming abroad, and no thanks to these likes of our countrymen who have so decided to sell us out cheaply.
Indeed it would be a very bad time to be identified as a Nigerian. The news as it came spiralled widely like the fog, painting across the dramatic picture of Nigerians been fraudsters and identifying Nigeria with sleaziness. Most of the times, it has been turbulent identifying one as a Nigerian, carrying its green passport. We've heard of how innocent overseas travellers are meted with indignity and shame at ports before boarding and after landing simply because they're discovered to be Nigerians- a people of probable fraud and terror.
It is very dehumanising, and the very reason this recent naming of Nigerians in illicit financial involvement should be condemned; it has brought with it a headache that's affecting Tom, Dick and Harry. The focus of every Nigerian at this moment should be to launder our disheveled image and create a sense of assurance amongst the international community. Indeed, it not to further cringe the image, which this incident has done.
I condemn this fraud action very strongly for its devastating effects on the victims and for the burden it has further placed on Nigerians travelling/living abroad and doing legitimate businesses there. But then, I'd quickly add that very distasteful and evil as it is, the crime for which 77 of our fellow citizens are indicted does not reflect the character of the over 190 million Nigerians engaged in legitimate efforts and contributing to local and universal good.
#FBIArrest
#The77Don'tRepUs
The point I am making is that this high profile case should be given the needed indepth analysis as to serve justice to those who are deserving of it. In making this necessary effort of serving justice to those deserving of it, it would help to clearly exonerate those who are not culpable, but who by whatever stint have been hewn in the web of indictment.
It is as such very necessary also that those of the 77 persons listed in the damning report and who as it is have been declared wanted should submit themselves to the relevant agency to afford them the leverage to do the required scrutiny and unmasked their genuine involvement or not.
They must understand that, even as reprehensible the crime they've been accused of is and even as worrisome as their perceived involvement could be- just as clearly it should- to them and to us, their willingness to step up and hand themselves over, would help mitigate the oft situations where some innocent victims suffer the same fate with those who have soiled their hands.
If they believe and know that they are not culpable, their listing is not an outright conviction for culpability but would be an error that would need to be corrected. The point being that they are just innocent until the substantial evidences are able to prove them guilty.
However, it is an act condemnable and which should be vehemently condemned that people have made it a trade to defraud hardworking and unsuspecting individuals of the rewards of their sweat and labour. It is indeed so unfortunate that this insensitive and dehumanising act of debauchery is perpetrated by fellow countrymen. At this stage in time, it would feel just saddening to be identified as a Nigerian. Not as if the image of this nation has been that welcoming abroad, and no thanks to these likes of our countrymen who have so decided to sell us out cheaply.
Indeed it would be a very bad time to be identified as a Nigerian. The news as it came spiralled widely like the fog, painting across the dramatic picture of Nigerians been fraudsters and identifying Nigeria with sleaziness. Most of the times, it has been turbulent identifying one as a Nigerian, carrying its green passport. We've heard of how innocent overseas travellers are meted with indignity and shame at ports before boarding and after landing simply because they're discovered to be Nigerians- a people of probable fraud and terror.
It is very dehumanising, and the very reason this recent naming of Nigerians in illicit financial involvement should be condemned; it has brought with it a headache that's affecting Tom, Dick and Harry. The focus of every Nigerian at this moment should be to launder our disheveled image and create a sense of assurance amongst the international community. Indeed, it not to further cringe the image, which this incident has done.
I condemn this fraud action very strongly for its devastating effects on the victims and for the burden it has further placed on Nigerians travelling/living abroad and doing legitimate businesses there. But then, I'd quickly add that very distasteful and evil as it is, the crime for which 77 of our fellow citizens are indicted does not reflect the character of the over 190 million Nigerians engaged in legitimate efforts and contributing to local and universal good.
#FBIArrest
#The77Don'tRepUs
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