The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has launched an investigation into the detention of a Nigerian citizen, Abdul Olatunji, in South Africa since 2019 without trial.

The Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols for NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said the Nigerian government is determined to get to the root of the with a commitment committed to uncovering the facts surrounding the case.

Olatunji’s family, in a petition to the Commission, had accused South African authorities of orchestrating false and malicious charges that led to his prolonged detention without charging him to court and called for the intervention of the Nigerian government.

In the Commission’s statement, Balogun said the acting Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa has been mandated to the South Africa government to provide an explanation on the prolonged detention of Olatunji.

“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission’s (NIDCOM) attention has been called to the above issue and will like to react as follows:

“Since the matter was brought to the attention of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), we have contacted the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa who has reached out to the South Africa government to provide an explanation on the matter given the severity of the case.

“It should be noted that this case was never brought to the attention of NiDCOM nor the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa who are currently working on a few cases involving Nigerians in South Africa.

“However, we will work with the Nigerian Mission in South Africa to ensure a thorough investigation is carried out, with justice and fairness.

“The President of one of the Nigerian Diaspora Organisations in South Africa, the Nigerian Women’s Association South Africa, Elizabeth Johnson, informed NiDCOM that they have reached out to Abdul, after some media reports, while making arrangements for a prison visitation soon. NiDCOM Chairman has also spoken to Abdul’s brother via a telephone call.

“The Nigerian, Abdul Olatunji, has allegedly been detained since 2019, without fair trial. The family had alleged that Olatunji is the victim of false and malicious charges, orchestrated by South African officials and called for the intervention of the Federal Government.

“NIDCOM assures that the matter will be thoroughly looked into by the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the statement added.

After a statewide power outage, miners at two copper mines in Zambia were rescued after being stranded underground, the country’s energy ministry announced Monday.

According to national utility company, Zesco, Zambia had a statewide blackout on Sunday as a result of a power system disruption that also impacted neighbouring Zimbabwe.

The greatest drought in decades has affected hydropower output in Zambia and Zimbabwe, resulting in extended hours of electricity rationing.

According to Peter Mumba, Zambia’s permanent secretary for energy, miners were stranded at two mines: one in China and the other at Mopani Copper Mines, which is mostly controlled by International Resources Holding of the United Arab Emirates.

He claimed that every miner had been rescued, however, he did not specify the number of trapped workers.

Zesco Acting Managing Director Justin Longo, supply to all mining businesses in the second-largest copper producer in Africa was entirely restored by around 0130 GMT, and by 0400 GMT, to the rest of the nation.

Longo stated that the source of the outage was being looked into and that the Kariba dam’s extremely low production made it impossible for it to have been brought on by electricity generated there.

Due to a shortage of water, the Kariba North Bank Power Station, Zambia’s largest hydroelectric power plant with an installed capacity of 1080 megawatts (MW), is presently only producing 120 MW.

“We are just keeping the plant running with one unit, which is not even running at maximum capacity,” said Mukupa Mulenga, the station’s maintenance manager.