The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law has called for the UK’s intervention. They want the United Kingdom to investigate the detention of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Mr. Peter Obi was detained by the Heathrow airport immigration officers.
The group describes Obi as a longtime UK resident. Therefore, the UK conducting an investigation will avert a reoccurrence of such issues. The request was contained in a letter to the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly. Also to the UK Minister of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Dev Office, Andrew Mitchell. The Co-Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Dev Office, Anne-Maria Trevelyan. The UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign, Commonwealth and Dev Office, David Rutley. The UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign, Commonwealth and Dev Office (2), Leo Docherty, among others.
Furthermore, the letter was signed by the principal heads of the organization: Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chidinma Udegbunam, and Ositadinma Agu. It was made available to journalists on Friday.
The letter states that Mr. Peter Obi was embarrassed, assaulted, and in detention for hours. Further, this was done at London’s Heathrow International Airport by immigration officers. Besides, the officers were acting on false intelligence, possibly planted by Gestapo agents holding a brief for the outgoing government of Nigeria. Accordingly, media reports say that the false intelligence was internationally plotted and planted against Peter Obi. An impostor was used to internationally discredit him as “a serial international financial criminal” involved in a series of financial crimes.
As a result of this, Peter Obi was in detention for hours. Then, his luggage became objects of a thorough search and was scattered around. Afterwards, he was allowed to go without an apology for the detention. The group is requesting an investigation to find out the sources or suppliers of false information.
Lastly, the group is asking the UK to direct its high commission in Nigeria to publicly tender an apology to Obi.