The legislator accused the school’s authorities of nonchalance about the demise of Gabriel Soriwei, a former 20-year-old first year student of Electrical/ Electronic/Engineering at the Cyprus International University. Mr. Soriwei was knocked down by a driver on July 13, 2013. He went into a coma and eventually died on September 7, 2013.
Five days after his demise, the university authorities flew his remains back to Nigeria. Nigerians, especially the deceased person’s family, have condemned the manner in which the school handled the situation. Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa, warned Nigerians to be wary of the authorities of school, who she said are moving to lure Nigerian students. “The House Committee on Diaspora has drawn the attention of Nigerians to a suspicious move by the authorities of Cyprus International University, Nicosa, North Cyprus to lure Nigerian students to their university,” Mrs Dabiri – Erewa said. She accused the CIU of conniving with North Cyprus to facilitate the release of the driver and shield her identity from the family of the deceased.
The Director, International Office of CIU, Patrick Douse, on Tuesday apologised to the Soriwei family over the Institutions nonchalance. He explained that the identity of the driver that knocked Gabriel down was being withheld by the police because investigations were still ongoing. Dabiri – Erewa recounted the death of another Nigerian, a musician from Bayelsa State, Stanley Ateimo.
He was allegedly murdered during a disagreement with a white student over a girl in Nicosa on August 12, 2013. She said Nigerians should be wary of the school’s team, which was headed to Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Uyo leaving out Benin and Bayelsa, home states of Messrs Soriwei and Ateimo. “Gabriel Soriwei, 20 years, was a first year student of Electrical/Electronic Engineering at the Cyprus International University, Nicosia, North Cyprus.’ “The university alleged he was knocked down by a female drunk driver in July 17,2013. “The university in connivance with the North Cyprus police, released the driver and shielded her identity from the family. “Till date, there has not been a word of condolence to the family.
His corpse was sent as an unaccompanied cargo to the grieving family, without any of his belongings.” “The Soriwei family have since buried their son and have not been reached by authorities of CIU four months after, and have expressed pain at the callousness of the university authorities. “The committee also notes that apart from Soriwei, a Bayelsa-born musician, Stanley Oteimo, was also murdered on August 12, 2013 because of a disagreement he had with a white student over a girl in Nicosia.
“The team from CIU held a seminar at Rockview hotel, Abuja on January 14,2014, to lure Nigerian students to their university and they are currently heading to Kaduna, Port harcourt, and Uyo. “They left out Benin and Bayelsa because the late Soriwei was from Benin and Stanley was from Bayelsa State. “From all indications, studying in this university, CIU, is not safe in particular and Nicosia, North Cyprus in General, is also dangerous for our students. “The House Committee also notes that North Cyprus is not recognised by Nigeria and all other countries in the world except Turkey,” the House Committee concluded.
The Soriwei family had earlier petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan, the National Assembly and the National Human Rights Commission, calling for an investigation into the tragedy.
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