The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified issues on a story published on page seven of The Guardian of Friday May 16th 2014, saying that receiving a report about the circumstances surrounding the death of Oloruntoba Oluwadamilola Falode, son of AIT sport journalist Aisha Falode “does not amount to accepting the contents of the report as the caption of the story conveys.”
According to Director/Spokesperson Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ogbole Amedu Ode, in a press statement released on Saturday, the story does not reveal anywhere the ambassador said he accepts the content of the report.
“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to a story captioned “FG Accepts UAE Police Report on Nigeria Boy’s Death” which was published on pg.7 of The Guardian of Friday May 16th 2014. In the report, the paper informed that in a telephone interview with Ambassador Ibrahim Auwalu, Nigeria’s principle envoy to the UAE, it obtained explanation to the effect that his mission had “received the report of Oloruntoba Oluwadamilola Falode death”. Mr. Falode, was a student of SAE Institute, Duba, UAE,” Ode said.
“In scouring through the story, there was no where the Ambassador was quoted as having accepted the contents of the police report and forensic investigations carried out on the remains of the deceased. What is obvious in the report of The Guardian’s interface with the diplomat is that he (the Ambassador) provided highlights and obviously, the conclusion of the host police’s investigations into the alleged murder. This is in keeping with the letter and spirit of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). We must therefore hasten to say, that receiving a report does not amount to accepting the contents of the report as the caption of the story conveys.
He pointed to the conclusion of the story, saying it shows that the ambassador’s position on the matter is dictated by the position of the family involved.
“What is more, in conclusion the reporter quoted Ambassador Auwalu as saying, that “……As far as the family is concerned the matter is ongoing and of course we have to go by the wish of the family. Therefore, for us too the matter is ongoing. Once the family says that they are not satisfied we continue because we represent Nigerians and their interest,” Ode pointed out.
