How Anambra lawmaker slumped, died in South Africa same night he was due to fly back to Nigeria; Protocol breach decried

Hon Nnamdi Okafor (Akajiugo Awka), the member representing Awka South Constituency and Majority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly collapsed inside his hotel bathroom and was later confirmed dead by paramedics who rushed to the scene.

A statement made available to Global Patriot Newspapers by Hon Benjamin Okoli, President General, Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa, NICASA, said that Okafor was part of a delegation of Anambra State House of Assembly members who visited Cape Town, South Africa on August 15, 2022, on a training tour and died the same night that he was scheduled to travel back to Nigeria.

Hon. Okoli said that upon receiving the news, members of the late lawmaker’s Constituency from Awka, who are resident in South Africa rushed to the scene, while he, the NICASA President, immediately informed the Consul General of Nigeria in South Africa, His Excellency, Hon Andrew Nengak Idi of the development.

The NICASA President General, who hailed the Consul General’s prompt response to the news of the tragedy, however noted that they discovered that the visiting legislators did not register their presence with the Nigerian Consulate and High Commission in South Africa during their visit, which he said, is breach of protocol.

“We think that such negligence should not be allowed by any visiting Nigerian and especially political leaders. Protocol should be followed by any Nigerian visitor to South Africa. We thank the Consul General, His Excellency Hon Andrew Nengak Idi for acting quickly despite the protocol breach,” he stressed, confirming that the body of the lawmaker has been taken for autopsy to determine the cause of his death.

Hon. Okoli, on behalf of NICASA, extended condolences to the government and people of Anambra State for the great loss.