US rights group arrives Nigeria over call to ban Saraki, 10 others from entering US
- A United States of American rights group has arrived Nigeria
- The group came to Nigeria on a fact-finding mission on the failure of the Nigerian Senate to swear in the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North Senatorial District Bassey Etim as ordered by a court
- The group also accused the Senate President Bukola Saraki of committing 'blatant abuse of power'
Some members of a rights group stationed in the United States has arrived Nigeria over growing calls for the ban of the Senate President Bukola Saraki and 10 other lawmakers from entering the US.
The rights group US Centre for Justice in Politics' arrival is sequel to the failure of the Nigeria Senate to swear in a Senator representing Akwa Ibom North Senatorial District Bassey Etim as ordered by a court.
This also comes weeks after a United Nations rights group, the People’s Right to Life Development Foundation (PELDEF) urged the congressional Black Caucus of the US congress to ban Saraki and 10 other lawmakers from gaining access into the US.
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Legit.ng gathered that the group is in Nigeria on a fact-finding mission of the failure of the Senate to swear in the duly elected Senator.
In a letter addressed to the national secretary of PELDEF, the US centre for justice expressed shock that the Nigerian Senate despite court rulings have failed to swear in Etim.
The rights group's letter dated July 17, reads in part: “As you may know, our organization, The Center For Justice In Politics (Center4JIP), is a non-profit organization based in the Atlanta area of the USA. We are primarily engaged in legislative procedures training, fighting for political justice and political consulting, in developing countries.
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“This is to first acknowledge receipt of your letter, dated July 7, 2017, with the accompanying supporting documents.
“Secondly, we want to inform you that after reviewing all the supporting documents and confirming the authenticity of the High Court ruling in Uyo and the Certificate of Return issued to Mr. Bassey Etim by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, we agree that the failure to swear in Mr. Etim to the Senate is unjust and a blatant abuse of power on the part of Nigeria’s Senate President, Mr. Saraki.
“Consequently and as contained in your letter to the Black Congressional Caucus, we will disseminate this information to other like entities to secure a ban on Mr. Saraki and others from entering the USA," the letter said.
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The group further added that it will take necessary steps to ensure a redress for "this abnormally"
Legit.ng earlier reported that a UN review group called for the ban of Saraki and other principal officers of the Senate.
The group in the petition said Saraki and these Senators should be banned from entering the US due to their refusal to swear in Etim according to court's order.
The group also claimed that the Senate President and the principal officers were violating the law by discriminating against the Senator-elect.
You can watch this Legit.ng video of Nigerians reacting to scrapping of the Senate:
Source: Legit.ng
