The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s High Commission to the UK to ensure embattled
Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice are provided with all consular
services they require.
The resolution was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a
motion by Representative Abdullahi Abdulkadir (APC-Bauchi) at the plenary on
Tuesday, NAN reports.
Moving the motion earlier, Abdulkadir said he is concerned
about the arrest of Ekweremadu, a Nigerian citizen, a serving senator, a former
Deputy President of the Senate and a former Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS
Parliament by the metropolitan police in the United Kingdom.
He said Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice were arrested at
the London Heathrow Airport, on their arrival from Nigeria to the United
Kingdom.
The Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service
(CPS) have since charged the Ekweremadus with offences relating to human trafficking
and exploitation.
Abdulkadir said the Nigerian lawmaker and his spouse had
been detained pending the determination of the jurisdiction issues by the
Attorney-General of England and Whales.
“Concerned that the additional information emerging from the
Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and other legitimate sources including the
visa issuing protocols at the UK High Commission.
“Bank verification number (BVN) suggests a different
narrative which might not have been available to the metropolitan police at the
time of arrest and charge.
“Hopeful that the authority in the United Kingdom will work
with their national security and intelligence counterpart in Nigeria to conduct
a holistic and thorough investigation to ascertain all the facts relating to
the allegation to make a fair determination on the issues in the best interest
of equity and justice for all concerned
“I am confident that the Federal Government of Nigeria will,
through the respective organs of government, use all available tools to ensure
that the investigation and outcome of this will be conducted in the highest
fidelity to the rule of law and with respect to the dignity of the person as
enshrined in the European Convention of human rights which the United Kingdom
is a signatory.
“We are aware of Ekweremadu’s unblemished record as a
constitutional lawyer, a ranking legislator at the highest level in Nigeria,
the West Africa subregion and various international parliamentary bodies and
foremost advocate of the right and dignity of man.
“Also aware that Mrs Ekweremadu has had a flawless career in
the Nigerian federal public service rising to the rank of director,” he said.
Abdulkadir said it is important to be mindful of the value of
human life as Miss Ekweremadu who has a life-threatening ailment needed not to
be allowed to come to harm’s way due to the unavailability of parental care
owing to the continued detention of her parents.
The lawmakers requested that the agencies of government and
corporate bodies and particularly the National Identity Commission (NIMC),
Nigerian Immigration Service and banks, act swiftly to respond to legitimate
requests for information to facilitate the prompt resolution of the charges
against Ekweremadu.
The House resolved to invite the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, acting Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service, and
Director-General of NIMC to brief the house through the relevant committees on
all necessary actions taken regarding the matter.
In his ruling, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila said a
criminal charge does not constitute a conviction or conclusive proof of guilt.
He said this is merely the beginning of the judicial process
to substantiate the fact of the allegation and gather sufficient evidence to
sustain the charges therein.
“Until that process is concluded and even then, let us keep
in mind that at the heart of this matter, there are human beings and fellow
citizens whose lives have taken a turn none of us would ever wish for ourselves,”
he said.
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