ARREST OF SOME NIGERIAN FRAUDSTERS NOT A YARDSTICK TO STIGMATIZE NIGERIANS IN THE DIASPORA .. Dabiri Erewa

Abuja, Wednesday, July 7th, 2020. The recent arrest of some Nigerians
in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates for fraud particularly *Ramoni
Igbalode , known as Hushpuppi* should not be a yardstick in anyway to
judge and stereotype Nigerians who are excelling globally. In a
statement issued by Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and
Protocol Unit, NIDCOM, quotes the Chairman /CEO, NIDCOM Hon Abike
Dabiri-Erewa as saying that “Nigerians all over the world are known to
be hardworking, diligent and determined and succeeding tremendously in
their chosen careers wherever they are,.Noting that bad news travels
fast.,the statement made reference to a Nigerian, Mr Ikenna Nweke who
was appreciated and commended by the Japanese government and the Police
for returning a lost wallet with large sums of money and a Credit Card.
Yet , it did not make headlines. Also while the news of Hushpuppy was
trending , a Nigerian in Russia Dr Chidubem Obi graduated with a 5.0 GPA
cleaning all established records in the University.
She stressed that Nigerians unarguably are the most educated immigrants
in the United States and are hard working, committed, determined and
very successful in their career and professions. According to the
Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora While commending the FBI and the EFCC
for tracking and tracing fraudsters , she noted that the law must be
allowed to take its cause.
The NIDCOM Boss also added , “let us focus more on the positive things
Nigerians in the Diaspora are doing than the few negative narratives
that purportedly give Nigeria a bad image. . Some Nigerians are working
three to four jobs per day , yet acts such as those arrested for fraud
are used to judge and stereotype them” She urged the youths to channel
their energies to the path of honesty and integrity , and uphold high
moral values stressing again that one bad apple cannot spoil the whole
bunch.