The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) has issued a formal apology to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Labour Party in the recently concluded 2023 elections, for his wrongful detention and mistreatment at Heathrow Airport in London last week.

This apology comes after a British immigration official admitted that Mr. Obi was mistakenly handed a detention note during a search, as he was impersonated by someone who committed perjury, forgery, and identity theft in the UK. The British authorities have deemed this treatment of the former Governor of Anambra State as “completely unacceptable.”

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In a statement, the Immigration authorities expressed their apology, stating, “Frankly, the Immigration Official’s action – has been appalling – and we are sorry.” When our correspondent sought further details from the British High Commission in Abuja, Dean Hurlock, the head of the media unit of the High Commission, declined to comment on matters of this nature.

According to reports, Mr. Obi was detained and interrogated for several hours by immigration officials at Heathrow Airport on April 7, 2023. The Head of Obi-Datti Media Office, Diran Onifade, also confirmed this development in a statement issued in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on Wednesday.

The Obi-Datti media office explained that the former Governor of Anambra State was wrongfully detained due to offenses allegedly committed by an impostor who is still at large. The statement further highlighted that the impersonator of Mr. Obi could be involved in various crimes that could lead to the arrest of the Labour Party flagbearer in the UK due to duplication of his identity.

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The statement from Obi-Datti Media office stated, “The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi just back from London, United Kingdom where he celebrated Easter, has confirmed that he was harassed by London immigration officials and placed in detention but for the spontaneous reaction of Nigerians at Heathrow Airport.”

The statement elaborated that Mr. Obi arrived at Heathrow Airport in London from Nigeria on Good Friday, April 7, 2023, and while in the queue for necessary airport protocols, he was accosted by an immigration official who handed him a detention note and instructed him to step aside. He was questioned for a prolonged period, which was unusual for someone who had lived in the country for over a decade.

“Since Obi’s face was already an international figure, especially for Nigerians, Africans at home and in the diaspora who are likely to be obedient, the people quickly raised their voices, wondering why he was being delayed,” the statement added.

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The immigration officials, taken aback by the reaction of the people, were forced to reveal that Mr. Obi was being questioned for a duplication offense, indicating that someone had 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,” the statement further explained.

The Obi-Datti Media office highlighted that since their candidate approached the court to seek redress over alleged irregularities and flaws in the February 25 presidential election, Mr. Obi has faced various attacks, and thus, it was not surprising that he was detained for hours in the UK.

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The statement stated, however, that Mr. Obi has returned to Nigeria and remains resolute, ready to endure the pain and remain even more determined to pursue his “stolen mandate.”