 |
Ayodeji Adegoroye (@ayodeji_dodo)/Twitter A protester stands atop a police structure in Ikeja, capital of Lagos state, during #EndSARS demonstrations on October 11, 2020. Ayodeji Adegoroye (@ayodeji_dodo)/Twitter |
The United Kingdom Government and Parliament, yesterday responded to the #ENDSARS petition by some Nigerians against the federal government, saying it is awaiting the outcome of Nigeria's investigations into reports of police brutality.
This is coming as the Canadian
Government has debunked granting asylum to any Nigerian due to the EndSARS
protests.
Also, about 32 Nigerians repatriated
from Germany yesterday arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport
(MMIA) Lagos from Dusseldorf Airport.
The deportees, all male arrived the
country at 2.30p.m on board a chartered aircraft, Envelope Airline.
Although there were no details about
the deportation, but immigration sources said the repatriation was facilitated
by the German Embassy and that all the male passengers were deported for
various immigration related offences.
With about 219,702 signatures, the
petition to UK seeks to implement sanctions against the Nigerian government and
officials, over abuse of power by the operatives of the now disbanded Special
Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the alleged shooting at protestors calling for
SARS disbandment.
Reacting, UK noted that it would not
publicly speculate on future sanctions designations but awaits the outcome of
the various investigations by the federal government.
The reaction, which came from the
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, said the government was deeply
concerned by violence during recent protests in Nigeria, which tragically
claimed lives.
It offered the country's condolences
and sympathy to the families of all those affected by the protests and
violence.
The full response read: "The UK
Government is deeply concerned by violence during recent protests in Nigeria,
which tragically claimed lives. Our thoughts are with the families of all those
affected.
"The Foreign Secretary issued a
statement on October 21, calling for an end to the violence and for the
Nigerian Government to urgently investigate reports of brutality by its
security forces and hold those responsible to account.
"The Minister for Africa tweeted
on October 16, noting the Nigerian people's democratic and peaceful calls for
reforms, and again on 21 October, encouraging the Nigerian authorities to
restore peace and address concerns over brutality towards civilians. He
reiterated these messages when he spoke to Foreign Minister Onyeama on 23
October. The British High Commissioner in Abuja has also raised the protests
with representatives of the Nigerian Government and will continue to do so.
"We welcome President Buhari's
decision to disband the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and the
establishment of judicial panels of inquiry to investigate alleged incidents of
brutality by the security services. They must investigate all incidents,
including in Lagos, fully. The Minister for Africa tweeted on 29 October
stressing the importance of the police and military's cooperation with the
panels. He raised this, and the need for the panels to urgently start
investigations, when he spoke to the Governor of Lagos on 11 November.
"The UK Government will continue
to work with the Nigerian Government and international and civil society
partners to support justice, accountability and a more responsive policing
model in Nigeria. We will continue to push for the Nigerian security services to
uphold human rights and the rule of law, investigate all incidents of
brutality, illegal detentions and use of excessive force, and hold those
responsible to account.
"On 6 July, the Government
established the Global Human Rights sanctions regime by laying regulations in
Parliament under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. In a
statement to Parliament, the Foreign Secretary set out in full the scope of the
UK's new Global Human Rights sanctions regime. He announced the first tranche
of designations, as well as the Government's approach to future designations.
"This sanctions regime will give
the UK a powerful new tool to hold to account those involved in serious human
rights violations or abuses.
"The sanctions regime is not
intended to target individual countries. It will allow for sanctions to be
imposed on individuals and entities involved in serious human rights violations
or abuses around the world.
"We will continue to consider
potential designations under the Global Human Rights sanctions regime. It is
longstanding practice not to speculate on future sanctions designations as to
do so could reduce the impact of the designations.
"The UK Government will keep all
evidence and potential listings under close review."
Meanwhile, Canada has denied granting
asylum to some Nigerians linked to the EndSARS protests, clarifying that it
does not grant or receive asylum seekers' applications directly from
individuals but through authorised second and third parties.
This is coming few days after it was
reported that Canada granted asylum to DJ Switch, the #EndSARS protester who
streamed live the shooting that happened at Lekki Toll gate in Lagos State.
DJ Switch sought the asylum after
several attempts on her life after the killing of peaceful #EndSARS protesters
in Lekki.
In a series of tweets yesterday on
its official Twitter handle, the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria explained
that no one could guarantee approval of immigration applications except
Canadian migration officers.
The High Commission, which tweeted
@CanHCNigeria, said the notice was important in light of "great interest
in Canadian immigration programs" received lately.
The Immigration and Refugee Board of
Canada had in 2018 reported that Nigeria had more pending refugee protection claims
in Canada than any other country globally.
The statement titled, 'A message from
the Government of Canada', read, "Canadian Embassies, High Commissions,
Consulates, Consulates-General or Honorary Consulates do not accept refugee
applications directly from people.
"Canada
works with the United Nations Refugee Agency, other designated referral
organisations and private sponsors to identify individuals in need of
resettlement, and who are outside their home country.
"You cannot apply directly for
resettlement. You must be referred to Canada by a designated referral
organisation or a private sponsor.
"No one can guarantee that your
immigration application will be fast-tracked or approved. Only a Canadian
migration officer can decide if you can come to Canada.
"All the information you need to
apply to visit or immigrate to Canada is available free on the official
Government of Canada website."
Canada is viewed as a global leader
with respect to refugee protection.
It has signed the 1951 Convention
Relating to the Status of Refugees other human rights instruments which protect
refugees.
Canada was the first country to set
out guidelines for considering the refugee claims of women, and has taken an
active role globally in the resettlement of refugees through both government
and private sponsorship programmes.
The UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, explained that there are two ways to make an asylum claim in Canada: (1) At an official Port of Entry, or (2) inside Canada at the office of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment