Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), is facing intense online scrutiny after a legal notice from Omokomo Chambers threatens a lawsuit over alleged tribal bias and hypocrisy, spotlighted by a diasporan critic known as UnkleAyo. The backlash centers on her selective commentary, notably her silence on the recent U.S. conviction of an Osun monarch for fraud, contrasted with her vocal stance against other diaspora crimes, such as naming and shaming Nigerians in Indonesia as drug peddlers in 2022 and highlighting 20 Nigerians on death row from the Southwest in August 2025. Critics argue this pattern suggests favoritism toward Yoruba figures, a claim amplified by her muted response to the monarch’s case compared to her firm condemnation of others, like traffickers she called “worse than drug barons” in a now-deleted tweet from June 24, 2024, posted on August 28, 2025.
The deleted tweet, which garnered 678K views before removal, urged naming and shaming traffickers preying on children, a stance some now see as inconsistent given her silence on the Osun monarch’s legal troubles. UnkleAyo’s recent X post on August 30, 2025, sarcastically pleaded for aid, claiming Dabiri-Erewa’s block left him “homeless & without food,” a jab at her alleged hypocrisy that has fueled online sentiment. The legal notice demands she unblock UnkleAyo and apologize publicly within 30 days, threatening a 15 billion naira suit for psychological torment and diaspora embarrassment, plus an injunction against further blocks, reflecting growing frustration with her leadership style.
This controversy has reignited debates about accountability, with some online voices suggesting her actions reflect a deeper tribal bias, though no official response from NiDCOM has emerged. The legal threat, signed by Ajojofoyinbo Okpebolor Babeje SAN, also hints at a class action for other blocked Nigerians, signaling potential escalation. Social media sentiment leans heavily critical, portraying Dabiri-Erewa as out of touch, though the lawsuit’s satirical tone, echoed in UnkleAyo’s post, leaves its seriousness in question.
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