Home Exclusive #EndSARS: UK Parliament To Consider Sanction On Nigeria, Army Over Lekki Killings 

#EndSARS: UK Parliament To Consider Sanction On Nigeria, Army Over Lekki Killings 

by Our Reporter
The United Kingdom parliament is currently debating sanctions to hand out on Nigerian Government officials  involved in the killing of peaceful protesters in Lekki on October 20 and other parts of the country.
Members of parliament are looking to impose direct sanctions on government officials, who played a role in violating human rights during the protest instead of a general economic sanction that may affect ordinary citizens.
The UK parliament decision is in a response to a petition signed by over 220,118 individuals in the United Kingdom, requesting the UK Government to sanction Nigeria for alleged violations of human rights.

The reply from the parliament partly reads, “The UK Government is deeply concerned by violence during recent protests in Nigeria, which tragically claimed lives. Our thoughts are with the families of all those affected.”

“Parliament will debate this petition on November 23, 2020. You will be able to watch online on the UK Parliament YouTube channel. On July 6, the British Government established the Global Human Rights sanctions regime by laying regulations in Parliament under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.

“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.

“We will continue to consider potential designations under the Global Human Rights sanctions regime. It is a longstanding practice not to speculate on future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce the impact of the designations. The UK Government will keep all evidence and potential listings under close review,” the parliament said in its reply.

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