By Ushang Ewa
Iso Bassey, a Cross Riverian based in the United Kingdom, has written a Member of Parliament, Jackie Doyle-Price representing Thurrock to lend her voice in the debate by the parliament on allegations of the brutality by law enforcement agencies in Nigeria during the #EndSARS protests in October.
Mr. Bassey in his letter dated November 19th asked the MP to seek visa bans for all elected and appointed public officials and their family members.
The Academix NG founder, said the UK owed its taxpayer’s the duty to act especially as the Nigerian Police Force was a beneficiary of the UK’s support.
Below is the letter…
19th November, 2020
2 Orsett Business Centre
Stanford Road
Grays, Essex, RM16 3BX
Dear Jackie Doyle-Price MP,
RE: BRUTALITY AGAINST PEACEFUL PROTESTERS IN NIGERIA – A CALL FOR SANCTIONS
Thank you for your letter dated 5th November 2020 in response to my letter dated 21st October, 2020 on the above subject.
I agree unreservedly with you that “The Nigerian police must uphold human rights and the rule of law in all operations, investigate any incidents of police brutality and hold those responsible to account.” Unfortunately, they have failed repeatedly to do this, and we have little confidence that they will change unless compelled to do so by Nigerian citizens and their international partners.
I am aware that the UK government’s Nigeria Security and Justice Reform Programme (SJRP) has provided support to the Nigerian Police Force under the “Strategic assistance to the Nigerian Police Force” programme component with a budget of £4.42m in the 2019-2020 financial year. UK taxpayers will be shocked and appalled to know that the UK government funds an institution that has a culture of extra-judicial killings and abuse of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.
I believe that the UK government owes taxpayers an obligation to hold the Nigerian government to account for the atrocities committed by the Nigeria Police Force during the period that the Force benefited from UK funding.
I am aware that the petition brought before Parliament titled “Implement sanctions against the Nigerian Government and officials” is scheduled for debate on 23rd November, 2020. I would like to respectfully appeal to you to lend your voice to this debate by:
1. Demanding for sanctions to be imposed on the Nigerian government
2. Demanding for visa bans on the following categories of people:
a. All elected and appointed officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria and their families
b. All elected and appointed officials of the 36 State governments and their families
c. All members of the Nigeria Police Force and their families
d. All members of the Nigerian Armed forces and their families
3. Calling for an investigation of all extra-judicial killings and other human rights abuses carried out by the Nigerian Police Force during the period it received funding from the UK government
Many of your constituents will be following this debate and eagerly awaiting the resolutions of the UK Parliament.
Thank you very much for your kind and considerate support.
Yours sincerely,
Iso O. Bassey