The British Parliament will debate a petition seeking to sanction the Nigerian government and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over alleged human rights abuses during the #EndSARS protests.
The debate is scheduled to hold today, November 23, 2020, according to a post on the Parliament’s website, at the Westminster Hall between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm.
It will be led by Theresa Villiers.
According to the debate pack captioned “E-petition 554150, relating to Nigeria and the sanctions regime,” the Parliament equally referenced the shooting of #EndSARS demonstrators at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October, 2020 as one its press articles.
“On 6 July, the Government established the Global Human Rights sanctions regime by laying regulations in Parliament under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018,” the post further noted.
“In a statement to Parliament, the Foreign Secretary set out in full the scope of the UK’s new Global Human Rights sanctions regime. He announced the first tranche of designations, as well as the Government’s approach to future designations.
“This sanctions regime will give the UK a powerful new tool to hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations or abuses. The sanctions regime is not intended to target individual countries. It will allow for sanctions to be imposed on individuals and entities involved in serious human rights violations or abuses around the world.”
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The petition which was created by one Silas Ojo sought for 100,000 signatures, but garnered 220,315 signatures, according to the UK Parliament’s website.
According to the UK post parliament’s website, any petition signed by over 100,000 individuals will be considered for discussion.
Part of the petition read, “There have been deeply concerning reports of a Nigerian police force unit engaging in illegal activities and human rights abuses, and there have also been reports of police firing at protestors calling for SARS to be disbanded.
“Implement sanctions against the Nigerian Government and officials.
“The Government should explore using the new sanctions regime that allows individuals and entities that violate human rights around the world to be targeted, to impose sanctions on members of the Nigerian government and police force involved in any human rights abuses by the Nigerian police.
“Deploying sanctions would provide accountability for and be a deterrent to anyone involved in violations of human rights.”
Recall that for two weeks in October, the youth took over the streets of major towns and cities in the country, protesting against Police brutality and calling for an end to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The peaceful protest was later hijacked by thugs and hoodlums who destroyed and looted public and private property across the country.
