Today, October 31st, 2024, is the birthday of my Sister, Aminat Adetola Soboyede. The word in the title of this piece is one of my nicknames for her (Halloween-er), which highlights the fact my Sister was born on what is said to be the scariest day of the year (Halloween), at least by American standards.
My Sister was not born in the US, as I was, but in Nigeria. But my Dad tells me that even back then (the late 90s) when she was born, Halloween Day was already a big celebration in Nigeria, even though the idea of Halloween did not originate there but in the US. My Dad also fondly describes Nigeria as “one of the 51st States of the US!”, an acknowledgement of how many Nigerians follow and / or embrace American culture and way of life, even if they’ve never been here or lived in the US.
My Dad once said he was “kind of superstitious” when my Sister was born on Halloween Day. Incidentally my Dad’s birthday is also close to that of my Sister; he was born on October 27th. For those who take note of such things, that means both of them were born Scorpios. My Dad’s “superstition” about my Sister’s date of birth is borne out of his belief as a member of the Muslim faith that phenomena such as ghouls, witches, etc. should not be overtly “celebrated”, as Halloween does, even though their position in the universes of the human and spirit worlds should be acknowledged and respected. My Dad believed and still believes Halloween Day is an “over-the-top celebration” of such phenomena; a few of his experiences since he started living in the US many years ago have made him understand that the presence of such phenomena in the lives of Americans is far more than pervasive than they let on. But that is a topic for another day.
Maybe this NIGHTMARE of my Sister being disappeared after she got to the Collin County Jail in Texas can be explained against the backdrop of my Dad being very uncomfortable with the day she was born those many years ago, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Notwithstanding, on this special day of my Sister’s birthday, myself, my Dad, my Mum and my Sister’s other sibling pray that this nightmare of her being disappeared from her loved ones by STRANGERS who claim to love her better than we do ends as soon as possible, and that my Sister is reunited with her family members in good health, happiness and well-being. Amen.
One quick observation at this point, which I had forgotten earlier: my Sister had three numbers that she was using / had used to communicate with my Dad and other family members before she was arrested on February 22nd this year (2024) and taken to the Collin County Jail in Texas. Those numbers were 612 601 6659; 612 413 3281 and 612 358 0034. Just a few days after her arrest, and when he believed she had been released from the Collin County Jail, my Dad called all of those numbers on WhatsApp, which is the platform he almost always used to call my Sister on those numbers.
The message that comes back to him on WhatsApp since then when each of those numbers are “dialed” is nothing but disturbing. Who was in such a hurry to cut my Sister away from her loved ones, ONLY TO NOW CLAIM MY SISTER IS AN “ADULT” WHO NO LONGER WISHES TO SPEAK WITH MEMBERS OF HER FAMILY?
May this NIGHTMARE end soon. Amen.
UPDATE ON THE “GUARDIANSHIP ATTORNEY FROM HELL” AND OTHER NIGHTMARES…
Again, I know: you’re all eagerly awaiting an Update on the lawyer based in Collin County, Texas (yes, that SAME county) that my Dad hired to file a Guardianship action in District Court within the same County to legally challenge the FALSE claim that my Sister Aminat Soboyede was a fully-functioning “adult” at the time of her arrest in February 2024 within the County but who has done his best to FRUSTRATE the matter—even though he has been paid the monies he charged.
For no real reason, this lawyer has refused to date to perform the elementary task of filing the Guardianship Petition that is already prepared with the Probate Court of Collin County, where such filings are lodged.
My Dad has subsequently taken the step of filing a Complaint against this attorney with the State Bar of Texas. I will continue to provide updates on that particular situation. In the meantime, my Dad is taking further legal steps that we all hope and pray will lead to freeing my dear Sister from the clutches of those who FALSELY claim to love her more than her own parents and Siblings.
Another important Update: In the past few weeks, Dad formally lodged a Complaint with the authorities of the Collin County Jail (which is basically under the overall control of the Collin County Sheriff’s Office) about the staff of the Jail that contacted him (my Dad) on ‘phone while my Sister was held in the Jail over the weekend of Saturday, February 24th and Sunday, February 25th. He mentioned in the Complaint the name of the person whom he believes to be that Jail staff (which he obtained through background checks using the numbers the woman used to call him).
Dad also sent a similar Complaint to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards over the issue. He is awaiting a formal response to his Complaint from both entities.
