Nigerian female drug suspect, 73, dies in Brazil

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

A 73-year old Nigerian woman, held for suspected involvement in drug peddling by Brazilian authorities has died in a hospital in that Country.

Mrs. Hafsat Awosade, a grandmother, was reportedly held early last year by Brazillian security authorities with illicit drugs. She died last week.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa(ACN-Lagos), who announced this at a press briefing yesterday, regretted that Mrs. Awosade died before she was found guilty of allegations of drug dealing.

“The very unfortunate thing is that this woman was yet to be found guilty of the charges levelled against her by the Brazilian authorities”.

According to the lawmaker, “It is a sad story. She died of high-blood pressure. It is even more tragic that she had already pleaded that she should not die in Brazil, but unfortunately she has died in a foreign country”.

Dabiri-Erewa however warned that ” there are lessons to be learnt from the tragedy”

She adviced other Nigerians who may likely fall into the same trap that “whether you know or you don’t know, it is not good to engage in illegal activities in Foreign Countries.

Her Deputy, Hon. Betty Appiafi(PDP-Rivers), said “The Committee had made several efforts while in Brazil and within the country to get the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene”, but added that it was unfortunate that the intervention came late.

The Committee had earlier in the year led a delegation to Brazil to investigate  the allegations of illicit drug peddling against Mrs. Awosade, who  until her death insisted that she went to Brazil for medical attention. The Committee had also looked into the cases of several other Nigerians still awaiting trial in the South American country.