Reps to investigate British agency, others over contempt of Nigerian courts

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives is poised to commence an inquiry into the conduct ofvBritish government officials and their investigative agencies, including the National Crime Agency (NCA), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and one investigator/prosecutor named Sara Melo.

This investigation follows allegations that these foreign entities have shown contempt for Nigeria’s judicial sovereignty and displayed a disregard for judgments issued by Nigerian courts. These judgments cleared African businessman and Aiteo Boss, Benedict Peters, of any wrongdoing.

The catalyst for this investigation was a petition presented to the House by the African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR), a civil society group. The petition was officially adopted during plenary yesterday.

According to the petition, foreign agencies have allegedly disregarded rulings from Nigerian courts and have engaged in actions aimed at undermining court decisions that vindicated Benedict Peters.

Despite more than ten high court judgments in Nigeria that exonerated Peters and dismissed fabricated allegations, the British authorities have continued to involve his name in UK proceedings, effectively undermining his innocence as affirmed by the Nigerian courts.

Aliyu Mustapha, representing Kubau Ikara Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, presented the petition on behalf of the civil society organization.

The group seeks a comprehensive legislative investigation into the ongoing defamation and undermining of Nigerian businessman Benedict Peters. Their objective is to compel the British government to cease undermining Nigeria’s judicial sovereignty and the judgments rendered by competent Nigerian courts.

He stressed that the petition is a call for Nigeria parliament to stop the unwarranted attacks and abuse of the sanctity of our judicial pronouncements and rights of our citizens.