Impersonation: British Government apologises to Peter Obi for wrongful detention

*The UK Immigration Officials reportedly note the uncomplimentary treatment Peter Obi  received at Heathrow Airport, in London, was ‘completely unacceptable’, and issued a personal apology

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Following his recent interrogation and detention over alleged impersonation for committing several financial crimes in the foreign country, the British Government has apologised to Mr. Peter Obi, Labour Party Presidential Candidate in February 25, 2023, election in Nigeria.

ConsumerConnect learnt the United Kingdom (UK) immigration officials admitted wrongly giving Obi a detention note at the Healthrow Airport, in London.

Earlier, report had indicated that the UK immigration personnel had unlawfully detained and interrogated him for hours at Heathrow Airport April 7 this year.

The officials had detained Obi for committing several alleged financial crimes, including perjury, forgery and identity theft, but later discovered that he was being impersonated in the country.

The government said the uncomplimentary treatment the Nigerian received at Heathrow Airport was “completely unacceptable,” and therefore, issued a personal apology.

Immigration authorities was quoted have stated: “Frankly, the Immigration Official’s action – has been appalling – and we are sorry.”

Reacting to the detention in the UK in a statement issued Wednesday, April 12, 2023, the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Office narrated how and why UK immigration personnel had harassed and detained Obi at the Heathrow Airport.

Diran Onifade, Spokesman for the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), who said this in a statement issued Wednesday, April 12, noted that Obi was detained and questioned for a duplication offence

According to Onifade, the offence suggested that someone had been impersonating Mr. Obi in London, UK.

He also stated the party’s Presidential Candidate, who just returned from London, where he celebrated Easter, was saved by the spontaneous reaction of Nigerians at Heathrow.

The statement further related that Obi had arrived the Heathrow Airport, in London, from Nigeria on Good Friday, April 7, and joined the queue for the necessary airport protocols when he was accosted by immigration official who handed him a detention note and told him to step aside.

Onifade stated: “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.”

The immigration officials who were also taken aback at the reaction of the people were forced to reveal to those present Obi was being questioned, he noted.

The Spokesman as well said that the high implication of the offence 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.

The statement added: “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.”

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