Victor EzejaLabour Party Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi has described as “Fake news” a report that the United Kingdom Immigration authorities tendered an apology to him over his detention in London last weekend.
A report circulating online has it that the UK Immigration Service has apologized to Obi over the incident that happened at Heathrow Airport, London when he arrived in the country on Friday, 7th April for the Easter celebration.
Reports of the apology had quoted the UK immigration authorities as saying that the treatment the former governor got from the immigration authorities is “completely unacceptable,” adding: “Frankly, the Immigration Official’s action has been appalling – and we are sorry.”
However, Obi through a statement by the Head, Media and Communications of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Diran Onifade, denounced the report.
Onifade said they are not aware of such an apology and have not issued any statement in that regard.
The statement by Onifade reads, “We have been receiving inquiries with regards to a so-called apology, purportedly issued by the British Government or any of its agencies, to our Principal Mr Peter Obi, in respect of a routine Immigration engagement with him, as he arrived London, for a brief visit, last Friday, the 7th of April.
“We would like to state emphatically that we are not aware of any such apology, and have not issued any statement whatsoever, in that regard.
“While we continue to examine any dubious or political motive, on the part of the perpetrators of the identity theft, we have every confidence in the ability of the British authorities to resolve the matter, to a conclusion.
“Mr Peter Obi and the LP/PCC have since moved on from the incident and continue to be totally focused …on the legal processes before the Election Petition Tribunal towards the recovery of our mandate, which we are firmly convinced, was overwhelmingly expressed by voters, in the Presidential election of February 25th.”
It would be recalled that Obi had upon his arrival at Heathrow Airport, London from Nigeria on Good Friday, 7th April 2023, for the Easter celebration, received a detention note from an immigration official, who asked him to step aside from the queue.
According to a statement by the Head of Media, Obi-Datti Presidential candidate Office, Diran Onifade, Obi was harassed and detained for alleged impersonation of him committed by someone else.
READ ALSO: Why Obi Was ‘Detained’ By UK Immigration Officers – Obi-Datti Campaign Office
Onifade said Obi was, however, saved by the instinctive reaction of Nigerians at Heathrow Airport who demanded to know why he was being detained.
“He was questioned for a long time and it was very strange for a man who lived for over a decade in that country.
“Since Obi’s face was already an international frame, especially for Nigerians, Africans home, and in Diaspora who are likely to be Obidients, the people quickly raised their voices wondering why he was being delayed,” he said.
“The immigration officials who were also taken aback at the reaction of the people were forced to reveal that Obi was being questioned for a duplication offense meaning that someone has been impersonating him in London.
“The high implication of the offense is that the impersonator could be committing all kinds of weighty crimes and other dubious acts and it would be recorded in Obi’s name.
Since the impersonator is still at large, the scenario is unimaginable as Obi could be implicated in a series of forbidden acts and even be framed in a manner that could be a huge embarrassment to him, his family, his party, the Obidient Movement, and indeed Nigeria, where he currently and indisputably remains the conscience of the people,” the statement read.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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