Nigeria: Treatment by authorities of returning failed asylum claimants since June 1998; whether political detainees who escaped from jail prior to June 1998 are still being sought by the authorities or are in danger of arrest
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | NGA30561.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nigeria: Treatment by authorities of returning failed asylum claimants since June 1998; whether political detainees who escaped from jail prior to June 1998 are still being sought by the authorities or are in danger of arrest, 1 November 1998, NGA30561.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab6e3a.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No information on the treatment by authorities of failed asylum claimants returning to Nigeria since June 1998, or whether political detainees who escaped from jail prior to June 1998 could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Please note however, that Canada does not inform foreign governments "that their nationals being returned are failed refugee claimants" excepting those persons with criminal convictions, and that "we do not monitor the treatment of individuals who have been removed from Canada" (CIC 15 Apr. 1998).
A 7 September 1998 DPA article states that General Abubakar announced on that day that "his government has dropped all charges against all Nigerian exiles and said they could return home unmolested." Abraham Adesanya, chairman of the National Democratic Coalition, indicated the next day that "Nigeria's leading exiles will not return home until the military junta revokes a sweeping security decree [Decree 2] allowing people to be arrested without charge" (AP 8 Sept. 1998). However, P.M. News reported on 16 October 1998 that several Nigerians in exile had returned to Nigeria by mid-October. These included Wole Soyinka, "former governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Reverand Peter Obadan, Senator Bola Tinubu, Commodore Dan Suleman and Mr. Tokundo Afikunyomi" (ibid.). However, P.M. News also reported that Col. Kemi Peters - allegedly involved in a December 1997 coup plot - was arrested at the airport in September "when he tried to sneak into the country from his hide-out in Europe" (28 Oct. 1998).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Associated Press (AP). 8 September 1998. Frank Aigbogun. "Opposition Leader: Nigerian Exiles Still Won't Return." (NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 7 September 1998. "Nigeria's Ruler Drops Charges Against Exiles, Urges Them to Return." (NEXIS)
P.M. News [Lagos]. 28 October 1998. Tunji Wusu. "Nigeria; Coup Suspect Arrested." (Africa News Service 28 Oct. 1998/NEXIS)
Post Express [Lagos]. 16 October 1998. [Internet].
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential. [London]. June 1998 - present.
Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. June 1998 - present.
Post Express [Lagos]. [Internet].
Resource Centre. Nigeria country file. June 1998-present.
_____. Nigeria: Amnesty International country file. June 1998-present.
Vanguard [Lagos]. [Internet].
West Africa [London]. June 1998 - present.
Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD, World News Connection (WNC).
Eight non-documentary sources contacted did not provide information on the requested subject.
