Press statement by the Nigeria High Commission on returns from the United Kingdom
This press statement from the Nigeria High Commission was submitted to the newsletter by the Unity Centre, an organization based in Scotland that offers support to people in detention. The Unity Centre is currently investigating the practice of issuing Emergency Travel Documents (ETD) to remove people to Nigeria. If you or someone you know was removed via an ETD and did not meet the criteria below, please contact the Unity Centre here. The press release is dated 17 November 2015, and inquiries to the Nigeria High Commission can be directed here.
The attention of the Nigeria High Commission in London has been drawn to a media report, which wrongly accused the High Commission of corruption and complicity in the deportation of Nigerians from the United Kingdom. Ordinarily, the High Commission would not have responded to such spurious allegation were it not for the fact that it was published by a section of the media considered respectable.
The High Commission wishes to strongly refute these allegations and to state that all deportations are carried out under a subsisting Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and the UK. In line with the MoU, before any Nigerian is deported, the High Commission always insists that:
i. Their citizenship has been proved beyond reasonable doubt;
ii. They are medically fit;
iii. They are allowed to exhaust all their legal remedies; and
iv. For those who have stayed in the United Kingdom for more than 15 years, proof of existence of friends and relations as well as capacity to reintegrate.
While discharging these responsibilities, the High Commission has always adhered to international best practices. It must also be stressed that contrary to insinuations, the British Government does not pay the High Commission for anything whatsoever, let alone deportations.
The unfortunate and reckless denigration of the character of an otherwise hard working officer of the High Commission is therefore, condemned in the strongest terms.
9 NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, LONDON
