Worried by non-responsive of Egyptair management on the death of a Nigerian, Ms Remilekun Toyosi Meshioye aboard the airline on Sept. 4, 2023, the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora
Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has demanded for justice
from the airline.
In a letter personally signed by her and was delivered by the
Commission’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun
to Mr Majdi Al Aridi, the General Manager of the airline in Abuja
office, she described the sudden death of Remilekun as sad and painful.
Dabiri-Erewa in the petition stated that Remilekuni’s case was drawn to
the attention of NIDCOM in a petition sent by Mrs Olufunmilola
Olaniyi-Alabi, her elder sister based in Uk on behalf of the Family to
the Commission.
She said that since the death of Remilekun aboard the airline from Lagos
to Cairo, the Management of the Egyptair has not deemed it fit to
contact any member of the family nor her next of kin as contained in her
particulars before boarding the aircraft.
” It is surprising that Egyptair management has not deemed it fit to
contact any members of Remilekun family to break the sad news to them
nor condole with them. It has not responded as well to NIDCOM petition
since Wednesday Sept. 13, 2023 “, the statement added.
On behalf of the family and the Federal Government of Nigeria, the
Commission is demanding for full disclosure that led to the sudden death
of Ms. Remilekun Toyosi Meshioye aboard Egyptair on that fateful day.
Dabiri-Erewa, who has since condoled with the family and prayed for the
repose of the soul of the deceased, assured them that justice will be
served in memory of Remilekun.
Remilekun, 41, who was billed for London to resume for her studies, was
said to have left Lagos for London onboard Egypt Air MS 876 flight to
Cairo on Monday Sept. 4, via Murtala Muhammad International Airport
(MMIA), Lagos, but allegedly took ill on board and brought out dead from
the aircraft at Cairo International Airport.
The family , according to Mrs Olufunmilola Olaniyi-Alabi, said the
Airline didn’t inform them, but rather they got a message from the
Nigeria consular office in Cairo informing them of her death on board
the flight. “Please we need to know what exactly happened to Remilekun
and how to get her corpse back to Nigeria for a peaceful burial as well
as all her belongings in the custody of the airline,”.
