The United Kingdom, UK, government has tendered an apology to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Labour Party in the just-concluded 2023 elections over his illegal detention and poor treatment at Heathrow Airport in London last week.
The apology was tendered after it a British immigration official admitted he wrongly handed Mr. Obi a detention note in a search of man who impersonated him to commit perjury, forgery and identity theft in the country.
British authorities said the uncomplimentary treatment meted out to the former Governor of Anambra State was “completely unacceptable”.
“Frankly, the Immigration Official’s action – has been appalling – and we are sorry,” Immigration authorities apologised.
The British High Commission in Abuja, through the head of the media unit, Dean Hurlock, said the mission does not make comment on matters of that nature.
Obi was reportedly detained and interrogated for hours by immigration officials at Heathrow Airport in London on April 7, 2023.
The Head of Obi-Datti Media Office, Diran Onifade, also confirmed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The Obi-Datti media office said the former Governor of Anambra State was wrongly detained over offences allegedly committed by an impostor who is still at large.
The statement added that the impostor of Obi may commit various crimes that would lead to the arrest of the LP flagbearer in the United Kingdom for duplication.
The statement reads in part; “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.
“Obi-Datti Media office can confirm that the LP Presidential candidate in the February 25 Presidential poll arrived at the Heathrow Airport in London from Nigeria on Good Friday, April 7, 2023, and joined the queue for the necessary Airport protocols when he was accosted by an immigration officials.