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Tag: Visa ban

  • Anambra poll: US reads riot act to likely trouble makers, threatens visa ban

    Anambra poll: US reads riot act to likely trouble makers, threatens visa ban

    The United States Government has warned likely trouble makers in the forth coming Anambra governorship poll of the dire consequences.

    In a statement ahead of the election, the U.S said it was prepared to slam would-be perpetrators of violence with the ban.

    US said it looks forward to a peaceful and transparent exercise with results that accurately reflects the will of residents.

    The statement from the US Embassy in Abuja reads: “The United States looks forward to a gubernatorial election in Anambra State on November 6 that is peaceful and transparent, with results that accurately reflect the will of the state’s residents.

    “We will be paying close attention to actions of individuals who interfere with the democratic process or instigate violence against civilian populations before, during, or after the elections.

    “We will not hesitate to consider consequences – including visa restrictions – for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process.

    “Under US immigration law, certain violations also may lead to restrictions on family members.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that tension is generally high on the possibility of violent break out owing to the recently gunmen attacks on the state.

  • Reciprocate FG’s #TwitterBan with visa ban on Buhari, Malami, Lai, PDP tells US, UK, others

    Reciprocate FG’s #TwitterBan with visa ban on Buhari, Malami, Lai, PDP tells US, UK, others

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday asked the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and other members of the International Communities to impose a visa ban on President Muhammadu Buhari and members of his cabinet.

    The opposition party said this should be done immediately, describing suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria as ‘stifling free speech in Nigeria.’

    This was disclosed in a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan.

    “The party also urges the world bodies to also sanction the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami as well as certain leaders of the APC for their individual ignoble roles in the ban imposed on Twitter in addition to associated harassments and threats to Nigerians.

    “The PDP urges the countries to bar President Buhari, Lai Mohammed, Abubakar Malami, and their family members from entering their territories for any private purposes whatsoever,” the statement read in part.

    The PDP said its demand is based on the violation of UN international Charter on Human Rights by President Buhari by banning the use of Twitter in Nigeria.

    The PDP insists that banning Twitter in Nigeria is a clear violation of Article 19 of the UN Charter as well as section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guaranteed freedom of expression to all Nigerians.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Article 19 of the UN Charter on Human Rights provides that Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinion without interference and to seek, receive and impact information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

    “In the same vein, section 39 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that “every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference,” PDP added.

    The party holds that the trio of President Buhari, Lai Mohammed, and Abubakar Malami and their agents cannot continue to enjoy diplomatic privileges and rights extended by virtue of their offices in Nigeria, while at the same time flouting the UN Charter.

  • Khashoggi: U.S. imposes visa ban on 76 Saudis

    Khashoggi: U.S. imposes visa ban on 76 Saudis

    The United States on Friday slapped a visa ban on 76 Saudi individuals in what it calls the “Khashoggi Ban”.

    This followed a U.S. intelligence report accusing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of approving the 2018 gruesome murder of exiled journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

    Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who announced the measure, alleged that the affected individuals were involved in “threatening dissidents overseas, including but not limited to the Khashoggi killing.

    He said the ban was part of measures by the U.S. government to “reinforce the world’s condemnation of that crime”.

    The aim, he said, is to stop governments that “reach beyond their borders to threaten and attack journalists and perceived dissidents for exercising their fundamental freedoms”.

    “As a matter of safety for all within our borders, perpetrators targeting perceived dissidents on behalf of any foreign government should not be permitted to reach American soil.

    “I also have directed that the State Department fully report on any such extraterritorial activities by any government in our annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

    “The United States will continue to shine a light on any government that targets individuals, either domestically or extraterritorially, merely for exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms,” he said.

    Khashoggi, a strong critic of bin Salman’s policies, was murdered by Saudi agents at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul while on a visit to obtain papers for his marriage.

    According to the declassified report, released by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence on Friday, the prince approved the capture or killing of the late journalist.

    It is the first time the U.S., a Saudi ally, is publicly accusing the crown prince of ordering the murder, an allegation bin Salman has always denied.

    The visa ban confirms reports that the President Joe Biden Administration will be tough on Saudi Arabia on issues of human rights.

    Blinken said although the U.S. would continue to invest in its relationship with Saudi Arabia, the partnership must reflect U.S. values.

    “To that end, we have made absolutely clear that extraterritorial threats and assaults by Saudi Arabia against activists, dissidents, and journalists must end.

    “They will not be tolerated by the United States,” he said.

  • #EndSARS: UK Parliament come hard on Buhari, ministers, recommends visa ban, asset seizure, others

    #EndSARS: UK Parliament come hard on Buhari, ministers, recommends visa ban, asset seizure, others

    It was a tensed atmosphere on the floor of the United Kingdom Parliament on Monday as members took turns to analyse and subsequently criticize the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari over the handling of the #EndSARS protests nationwide.

    The lawmakers recommended sanctions on government officials and security agents such as visa ban, freezing of assets and stopping the funding and training for the Nigeria Police Force.

    The debate was sequel to a petition started by Silas Ojo which had garnered over 200,000 signatures.

    The debate by members of the Petitions Committee, which took place at the Westminster Hall, kicked off with Theresa Villiers, a member of the British Conservative Party who served as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2019 to 2020.

    The Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet constituency said, “I believe the petitioners have a credible case for the imposition of individualised sanctions such as travel bans and asset freezes.”

    She said the UK Government must explain the role of the government in training security agents who end up abusing the rights of Nigerian citizens.

    Also speaking, the MP for Edmonton, Kate Osamor, described as undemocratic, the claim by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, that the killings at the Lekki toll plaza was fake news.

    Osamor stated, “The Nigerian government says that it has disbanded SARS but the corruption and brutality of the security forces continues. The Nigerian government’s violence against its own citizens appears only to be intensifying.

    “The Nigerian government needs to stop freezing bank accounts of key protesters; it needs to stop illegal detentions of key protesters. The Minister of Information for the Federal Government went on record to state that the CNN reporting of the massacre is fake news. This is undemocratic conduct.”

    Osamor stated that the UK government continued to sell weapons and provide training to SARS personnel despite the fact that Amnesty International and other rights groups had accused the now disbanded unit of extra-judicial killings.

    Member of Parliament for West Ham, Lyn Brown, said it was unfortunate that the Federal Government went ahead to not only accuse protesters of sponsoring terrorism and freeze their accounts but also blamed them for the increase in food prices.

    Responding on behalf of the UK government, the MP for Aldridge-Brownhills, Wendy Morton, who is also the Minister at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, said the reports of intimidation of #EndSARS protesters were worrying.

    Morton stated that the UK government was communicating with the President’s Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    “It is a long-standing practice not to speculate on future sanctions as it could reduce the impact of the designations,” Morton said.

    “We are aware that some protesters have reported facing intimidation and the British High Commissioner in Abuja continues to raise our concerns about intimidation of civil society groups and peaceful protesters with the Nigerian government,” the minister said.

  • Sovereignty: UK replies FG, defends visa ban threats on perpetrators of electoral malpractices

    Sovereignty: UK replies FG, defends visa ban threats on perpetrators of electoral malpractices

    The United Kingdom (UK) says it respects absolutely the sovereignty of the Nigerian Government but also has the right to determine who to enter her country or not.

    Ms Catriona Laing, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, made this remark during an orientation programme for people with disability, seeking Chevening scholarship opportunities in the UK, on Thursday in Abuja.

    This is also coming following the response of the Nigerian government that it considers it disrespectful to the sovereignty of Nigeria, for any outside authority to judge the conduct of its citizens and apply punitive measures such as visa restriction.

    Recall that the governments of the United States of America and the UK announced visa imposition on anyone who constitutes violence and undermines electoral processes in the Edo and Ondo States elections.

    Laing, however, said that the UK welcomed the fact that the Nigerian Government was following up on any violence, commending the peaceful conduct of the Sept. 19 elections in Edo.

    She further said that the issue of visa restriction on perpetrators of electoral violence was the UK’s visa policy

    The high commissioner added that the Government of the UK could determine who travels to the country.

    “It is our visa policy, the UK and we can determine who comes to the UK.

    “So, that is a non-sovereign right.

    “And all we are saying is that in line with Nigerian policy, that those who commit violence or who incite violence, there may be an implication for that person when they apply for a visa to the UK.

    “So, I think it is actually completely consistent with the Nigerian policy.

    “This is our visa policy, but obviously, it is for Nigeria to determine how they deal with these perpetrators in Nigeria,’’ Laing said.

    Responding on if the UK would heed the Nigerian Government’s response and drop such plans of imposing a visa ban on the individuals, Laing said she was surprised with the response of the government.

    She recalled that prior to the 2019 general election, the Nigerian Government welcomed its policy.

    On the award of Chevening scholarship to Nigerians, Laing said that many Nigerians had benefited from the programme over the years, putting the numbers in thousands.

    “Because the programme has been running for a long time and in this year, we are sending 49,’’ Laing stated

  • Visa ban: FG tackles US, UK, says sanctioning electoral offenders disrespectful to Nigeria’s sovereignty

    Visa ban: FG tackles US, UK, says sanctioning electoral offenders disrespectful to Nigeria’s sovereignty

    The Nigerian government has said it considers it disrespectful to the Sovereignty of the country for any outside country to apply punitive measures such as visas restriction on its citizens.

    The Nigerian government made this known in a statement issued by Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday in Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that this comes as a response to the recent announcement of the U.S. and the United Kingdom to impose visa restrictions on those who undermine electoral processes.

    The Nigerian Government said it was committed to providing all necessary logistic, financial and security support to the electoral process.

    “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to state that the Nigerian government has taken note of the concerns of some of our partners, especially the U.S. and UK governments regarding the elections in Edo and Ondo States.

    “They have also expressed their intentions to take punitive measures against those who decide to, in what they termed as, undermine democracy.

    “It is important to highlight that the responsibility for the conduct of elections in Nigeria solely resides with the Independent National Electoral Commission and State Independent Electoral Commissions.

    “The Federal Government, and especially the President, is committed to providing all necessary logistic, financial and security support to the electoral process.

    “The President has continually urged all parties and contestants to peacefully conduct themselves before, during and after the elections, and supported patriotic non-governmental initiatives such as the Abdusalami Abubakar-led Peace Committee.

    “Furthermore, it should be noted that there are ample provisions in our laws to sanction violators and perpetrators of electoral violence and fraud.

    “It would be considered disrespectful of the sovereignty of Nigeria for any outside authority to sit in judgment over the conduct of our citizens and apply punitive measures such as visa restriction, unilaterally.

    “While we appreciate the support and encouragement of our international partners such as the EU, we urge our equally valued partners such as the UK and U.S. to cooperate with our relevant agencies,” the government said.

    The government called on the partners to support security agencies by providing them whatever concrete evidence of observed misconduct to allow our laws and regulations to take their course.

    The Nigerian government also expressed solidarity with the government and people of the U.S. as regards their forthcoming election, which it hoped would be free from interference and violence.

  • Nigeria, US meet over visa ban

    Nigeria, US meet over visa ban

    The Federal Government and the United States are presently holding a meeting on the visa ban on some categories of Nigerians.

    The meeting, which is ongoing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is expected to provide the country the opportunity to brief the US government on steps taken so far to resolve the issues.

    The Nigerian delegation is headed by the Permanent Secretary, MFA, Amb. Mustapha Sulaiman, while the American side is headed by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard.

    Also in attendance is the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, and senior officials from relevant ministries, departments and agencies.

    Details later…

  • Saraki begs US, UK to extend visa ban to electoral, judicial officers

    Saraki begs US, UK to extend visa ban to electoral, judicial officers

    Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has urged the United States (U.S) to expand the visa ban it slammed on Nigerian politicians to include electoral officers, security officials and judicial officers who undermine the nation’s democracy by their actions during and after elections.

    He also called for a strong enforcement of the law which provides for punishment of politicians, law enforcement agents, ordinary citizens and electoral officers who are caught subverting the electoral process.

    “All stakeholders must show commitment to diligent enforcement of and compliance with the law. This has been addressed in the 2010 Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2019 worked upon by the Eighth National Assembly,” he said.

    Saraki spoke on Tuesday on the topic: Electoral Reforms and Democracy, at an event organised by the Centre for Advancement of Civil Liberties to mark the International Day of Democracy.

    The former Senate President submitted that a faulty electoral process is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

    He enjoined the Ninth National Assembly to expedite action on the Electoral Act as the next general election is almost 30 months away.

    Saraki said: “Nothing threatens our democracy more than a faulty electoral process. We cannot afford to allow our populace to lose faith in the democratic process. That will be a recipe for chaos.”

  • PDP reacts to US visa ban on Nigerian politicians

    PDP reacts to US visa ban on Nigerian politicians

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the United States over its latest imposition of a visa ban on some Nigerian politicians accused of undermining democracy and the electoral process in Nigeria.

    In a statement on Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party urged the United States Department of State to include family members and assets of the politicians affected by the ban.

    The United States had on Tuesday announced a fresh visa ban on some politicians believed to have played some roles in electoral violence during the November 16, 2019 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

    The PDP also urged the United States to invite the European Union as well as other nations, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, to also join in imposing similar sanctions on electoral violators in Nigeria who are bent on destroying the nation’s democracy.

    It similarly demanded an extension of the ban to families as well as confiscation of assets of such individuals to serve as a stronger deterrent to protect innocent Nigerians who are left to bear the brunt of the misdeed of such unpatriotic persons.

    The PDP added that the ban, if taken across the globe, would be a final warning to the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as “compromised” security and electoral officials, being used to perpetrate electoral violence and manipulations.

    The statement said, “It is instructive to note that this announcement by the US, which reinforces the determination for resistance in Nigeria, is also an unambiguous cautionary to the sacked national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, the APC governorship candidates in Edo, Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his Ondo counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, over their plots to use violence to undermine the sanctity of the Edo and Ondo state governorship elections.

    “Our party asserts that the position of the US Department of State is a confirmation that 2019 general elections, the November 2019 Kogi governorship election, as well as other elections under the Buhari regime were massively rigged with unrestrained violence against the people and rampant manipulations by the APC and their compromised security agents.

    “The world is aware of how our compatriots were killed and maimed in Kano and various parts of our nation in the 2019 elections; how collation of results were compromised by relations of APC candidates and how compromised security operatives were used to frustrate the will of the people.

    “Without saying, Nigerians know the individuals who unleashed violence to rig the November 2019 Kogi state governorship election; who deployed thugs and security agents to shoot and kill voters, cart away ballot boxes, used police helicopter to fire tear gas on Nigerians, burnt an innocent woman, Mrs. Salome Abuh, alive, altered election result figures to make themselves winners.

    “The US ban is, therefore, firm support to our stiff resistance to plots by Oshiomhole and Ize-Iyamu, who have been overheating the polity in Edo state with serial attacks on other political parties while assembling thugs, cultists, fake policemen as well as their ‘tigers and lions’ who they publicly instructed to invade polling centres to unleash violence and undermine the electoral process.

    “In Ondo, Nigerians are already aware of how the self-confessed APC militant and former APC chairman in the state, Isaac Kekemeke, boasted that the APC will use violence to rig the October 10 election and that Governor Akeredolu was behind the violent political attacks rocking the state.

    “It is instructive to note that after Kekemeke’s boast, INEC facility in Akure, Ondo state capital was set ablaze, leading to the destruction of not less than 5141 card readers meant for the election were destroyed.

    “Furthermore, Nigerians know the faces of INEC and security officials used as political mercenaries to manipulate elections in Kogi, Ekiti, Osun, and other states. Our party vehemently rejects the deployment of the same individuals to Edo and Ondo.

    “The presence of such persons is an invitation to the crisis as the people of Edo and Ondo will use every means available and allowed in a democracy to resist them.”

    The party charged INEC and security agencies to strive to go by the rules, stressing that the world is watching their actions and that a shameful end awaits those who undermine the will of the people.

    The PDP urged Nigerians, particularly in Edo and Ondo states to remain at alert and strengthen their resolve by voting and firmly defending their votes from the polling and collation centres to the final declaration of results.

    It called on them to demonstrate enough determination to unbridle the instrument of resistance to anybody who may attempt to undermine their will at any stage of the electoral process.

  • Edo, Ondo polls: UK says electoral offenders risk visa ban, asset seizure

    Edo, Ondo polls: UK says electoral offenders risk visa ban, asset seizure

    Barely 24 hours after the United States Government slammed visa restriction on electoral offenders in four Nigerian states, the United Kingdom (UK) is towing a similar part to punish those who might foment violence in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo and Ondo states.

    The British High Commission in Nigeria stated this in a statement published on its Twitter handle on Tuesday.

    It said the sanction could include restrictions on their eligibility to travel to the UK, restrictions on access to UK-based assets, or prosecution under international law just as it did after the 2019 elections.

    The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, in the statement, said she has held meetings with the leaders of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party on the Saturday governorship election in Edo State.

    The commission explained that the parley focused on the need for the parties to prevail on their supporters to avoid violence before, during, and after the elections.

    It further said the UK welcomed the signing of a peace accord by the governorship candidates in the state.

    The commission disclosed that it would be deploying observation missions to both Edo and Ondo polls while supporting civil society-led observation.

    The statement read, “The UK takes a strong stand against election-related violence and just as we did in the general election in 2019, we will continue to take action against individuals we identify as being responsible for violence during elections.

    “This could include restrictions on their eligibility to travel to the UK, restrictions on access to UK-based assets or prosecution under international law.”