The UK government has responded to PREMIUM TIME’s letter seeking details of the arrest and detention of the Labor Party presidential candidate, Peter ObiHis immigration officers at London’s Heathrow Airport last week.
However, he refused to give sufficient details about Mr. Obi’s ordeal as this newspaper responded through the Ministry of Interior.
In a brief response on Thursday, the UK government said it does not comment on individual cases.
“We don’t comment on individual cases,” said Chloe Newman, senior communications officer – Newsdesk Communications Directorate, in a response on Thursday.
Concerned about the various unfounded claims on social media about the issue, this newspaper wrote UK Home Office on 13 AprilTrying to understand the circumstances surrounding the events of Mr. Obi in the European country during Easter, in order to make detailed reports.
Obi-Datti Media, whose boss, Diran Onifade, in a statement on Wednesday, said Mr. Obi was arrested in London by UK immigration officials on suspicion of impersonation.
The statement, however, did not include details of Mr. Obi’s arrest and subsequent release before he returned to the country.
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Specifically, neither the UK government nor the LP, in their statement, clarified Mr. Obi’s crimes, when and how he was released, the conditions under which he was released, the current status of the case against him and other matters.
What’s more, while the party claimed in its statement on Wednesday that Mr. Obi was arrested for alleged identity, it failed to state the alleged offenses of Mr. Obi being “arrested”, “harassed” and eventually “arrested”. he was freed.
It is also unclear whether Mr Obi was deported and still has a valid UK entry visa since the incident in London last week.
A similar inquiry was also sent to Mr. Onifade, but he has not yet responded at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, LP has denied media reports that the UK government apologized to Mr. Obi for the “arrest”, “detention” and “harassment” at London airport as his party claimed in a statement, Mr. Obi has yet to speak. his ordeal in London.
Mr. Obi was one of 18 candidates in Nigeria’s last presidential election, in which he came third.
The Electoral Commission declared the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Tinubu the winner of the poll with over eight million votes against Mr. Obi’s over six million votes.
The LP candidate and four others are challenging the result in court.
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