THE British Government has reportedly apologized to Labour Party presidential candidate in the 25th February election, Mr. Peter Obi, over his alleged illegal detention and harassment at Heathrow Airport, London.
The apology came following the admittance of an immigration official to have wrongly handed Obi a detention note in a search of a man who impersonated him to commit forgery and identity theft.
British authorities said the uncomplimentary treatment he received was “completely unacceptable” and thence issued a personal apology.
“Frankly, the Immigration Official’s action has been appalling – and we are sorry,” a report by The Nigerian Voice quotes British immigration authorities as saying in a personal apology to Obi.
It would be recalled that Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, was stopped and questioned at the airport by the United Kingdom immigration office last Friday,7th April. He was however allowed to go following protests by Nigerians at the airport.
The Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Office had early in the week revealed how Mr. Obi was harassed by immigration officers at Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom.
A spokesman for the campaign council, Diran Onifade, in a statement on Wednesday said the former Anambra State governor was detained and questioned for a duplication offence which suggests that someone has been impersonating Obi in London.
According to Mr. Onifade, the LP’s presidential candidate who returned to Nigeria from London, where he celebrated Easter, was saved by the spontaneous reaction of Nigerians at Heathrow Airport.
Onifade said Obi arrived at Heathrow Airport in London from Nigeria on Good Friday, 7th April 2023, and joined the queue for the necessary airport protocols when he was accosted by immigration officials who handed him a detention note and told him to step aside.
“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,” Onifade narrated.
Eighteen-Eleven Media