Reports have it that the UK Parliament is set to hold a debate on individual sanctions against Nigerian government officials on November 23.
In an email sent to one of the individuals who signed a petition asking the UK government to sanction those responsible for the killing of unarmed EndSARS protesters, the petitions team of the UK government and parliament has now set aside November 23 for its parliament to debate the issue.
The email read: “Parliament is going to debate the petition you signed -’Implement sanctions against the Nigerian government and officials’. The debate is scheduled for 23 November, 2020. Once the debate has happened, we’ll email you a video and transcript.”
However, when contacted, a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, disclosed that the ministry was yet to be notified about the development.
Senior Advocate, Mr Femi Falana, has advised that the United Kingdom should not be hypocritical in its Parliament’s decision to debate individual sanctions on government officials involved in the shooting of protesters in Lekki, Lagos State.
Also a former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Professor Bola Akinterinwa, said the decision of the United Kingdom Parliament to debate on individual sanctions on government officials responsible for the killing of unarmed protesters in Lekki is a very welcome development.
He said at the level of the Federal Government, an impression is given that the military had not done anything wrong despite the many contradictions by the military as far as the Lekki incidence is concerned.
The debate on whether or not sanctions should be imposed on Nigerian government officials will depend on the conditions stipulated in the UK Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020, also known as the ‘Magnitsky’-style sanctions regime.
