The UK government has issued a formal apology to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, after immigration officials detained him at Heathrow Airport in London on April 7, 2023, for alleged financial crimes that were later found to have been committed by an impostor.
In a statement released by the Obi-Datti media office, it was confirmed that the former governor of Anambra State was wrongfully detained for several hours by immigration officials, who mistook him for someone else.
The statement added that the impostor may commit various crimes that could lead to the arrest of the LP flagbearer in the UK for duplication.
Following an investigation, immigration officials admitted their mistake and issued a personal apology to Mr Obi, stating that the treatment he received was “completely unacceptable.”
“Frankly, the immigration official’s action has been appalling, and we are sorry,” the statement read.
In response to the apology, Mr Obi expressed his disappointment over the incident, stating that it was a clear case of mistaken identity.
“I was shocked when the immigration officials insisted that I was the one they were looking for, and that I had committed various financial crimes,” he said.
Mr Obi further added that the incident was an unfortunate reminder of the negative impact that mistaken identity can have on innocent individuals, and called on the UK government to take steps to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
The Labour Party also released a statement condemning the wrongful detention of Mr Obi and calling for an investigation into the matter.
“We are deeply concerned about the treatment that Mr Obi received at the hands of immigration officials in the UK,” the statement read.
“We call on the UK government to take immediate steps to ensure that such incidents do not happen again, and to provide assurances that the rights of all individuals, regardless of their status, will be protected.”
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among Nigerians, with many taking to social media to express their anger and frustration over the treatment of Mr Obi.
