The British High Commission in Nigeria has denied the national chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Tony Momoh, an entry visa into Britain, the party’s said yesterday in Abuja.
According to a statement by the CPC National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, Mr Momoh had applied for an entry visa to that country to attend a family ceremony.
He said though the party understands that the issuance of visas was strictly the discretion of the commission, it was, however, bewildering when the reason for doing so was based on a ‘clandestine’ criteria.
“Ordinarily, denial or acceptance of visa application is strictly the discretion of the issuing country, however, it is bewildering when the decision is largely based, not on the weight of the evidence supplied, but on some other clandestine criteria,” Mr Fashakin said.
The CPC spokesman alleged that the commission told Mr Momoh, a former information minister, that he had not provided enough information on the funding for the trip.
The evidence presented included documentation from the Mr. Momoh’s nephew who is a British citizen, who works with a British bank and owns a five-bedroom apartment, as well as a bank statement; yet the commission discountenanced all the information, according to the CPC.
The statement quoted the British High Commission as telling Mr Momoh thus: “You have not provided any evidence that your sponsor is able to accommodate you as you claim. You have failed to provide any evidence that there is adequate room for you, nor have you shown whether your sponsor is financially responsible for anyone else.
“I am not satisfied you are satisfactorily established in this country or have demonstrated strong ties to it. Nor can I be satisfied that you intend to leave the UK at the end of the period as stated by you and as required by paragraph 41(ii) of HC395.”
Mr Fashakin said that part of the statement was highly offensive. Referring to a septuagenarian who is the national chairman of a national party and a former minister of the Federal republic of Nigeria as not having demonstrated strong ties to the country as to desire to return after a visit to Britain, stretches credulity to an intolerable limit, he added. He also makes hints that the Nigerian government might have a hand in the decision of the British High Commission.
“We are convinced that (though) this decision is ostensibly based on the stated reasons, but the real reasons shall remain unknown,” the CPC spokesperson said. “We are not unaware of the immense pressure that the powers that hold sway within the political firmament, place on everyone (diplomatic missions inclusive) within the nation space; but it is our considered belief that fairness should be the predication of every policy implementation.
“Though our dear Tony Momoh does not intend to appeal this infernal decision, we want to use this medium to implore all the diplomatic missions in the Nation to remain apolitical and untainted in these perilous political times.”
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