Reps secure release of Temitope Arowolo, Nigerian lady held in Lebanon after dramatic meeting with Ambassador

By our reporter| A drama played out on Thursday at the house of Representatives, Abuja, as the Lebanese ambassador to Nigeria, Houssam Diab, staged a walkout on house committee members on diaspora affairs.

The ambassador who arrived at the meeting venue at about 10:30 am, for a meeting on the maltreatment of Nigerians in Lebanon, met journalists and some other government officials, including Zubairu Dada, minister of state for foreign affairs.

The ambassador expected the meeting to be held in camera but got up and walked out when he realised that will is not the case but some other members of the committee went after the ambassador and the meeting was later held behind closed door.

Speaking shortly after the meeting, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, chairman of the committee, said the meeting was cordial, and the walk-out was a misunderstanding.

She said, “It was an informal meeting because the ambassador was nice enough to join us at the meeting. There is no law that says he has to be here today, but because he has an interest in the joint relationship between Nigeria and Lebanon.”

“It was a misunderstanding, it meant to be an informal meeting and the ambassador was not aware that even when we have our informal meeting is documented. Because of the law of diplomacy, he wasn’t expecting to have media there and it was immediately resolved that it was going to be an executive session. The minister apologised on behalf of foreign affairs and he apologised on behalf of the country and the Embassy of Lebanon.

“We have a lot of Nigerians in Lebanon, we have a lot of Lebanese in Nigeria. We have a relationship with Lebanon from the 50s so you can imagine how we have been.

“This meeting today has further reiterated the Lebanese community and the Nigerian community we always stand together to ensure that justice and respect for human lives is a priority and we will work together to bring modern-day slavery to an end.”

“I am happy to inform Nigerians that Temitope will be home before the end of the week, and so many other Nigerians who want to come home from Lebanon the opportunity will be provided for them to come home,” she said.

She also revealed that her committee looking into the case of a Lebanese being held on charges of human trafficking in Ilorin, Kwara state capital.