Olayinka
Adeleye, the 30-year-old man whose photo appeared in place of a Nigerian man
who allegedly died in the Ukrainian plane crash on 8th January, has
refuted the claims of being among the 176 passengers that died.
Adeleye is
the head of the department of Lagos Neighborhood and Safety Corps (LNSC) in the
Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area in Mushin. He said the use of
his photo has caused much pain to his family as they now refer to him as ‘the
man that died in the crash’ and a ‘ghost’
Speaking to newsmen at his lawyer’s office, Adeleye said he has never boarded a plane in his life. Also, he said his mother fainted on receiving the news of him ‘dying in the crash’
The young
man wondered why someone will cause his family so much trauma with his photo
which was taken from Instagram and published on his birthday 10th
January
He spoke
further;
" My
immediate reaction when I learnt my photograph was published in done media
outfit as the man that died in a plane crashed in Tehran on my birthday was
that of shock, fear, and disappointment. Why should anybody wish a young man
like me dead? I was even more disturbed when I learnt that my mother collapsed
and was rushed to the hospital when she was told. She was told I died in an
accident and they later explained to her it was a plane crash.
"She
knew I did not travel anywhere yet the
news devastated her. As I recovered from the trauma I had to do a video call to
her to believe I was still alive. Those who are behind this have caused too
much trouble in my family. What if my mother had died?
” I think the
police and relevant agencies should investigate why people do a thing like to
embarrass people going about their own business.”
His lawyer, Femi Martins, said though his client’s name was not used in the publication, the photo attached is his.
Read the initial story here: