Incite violence, get visa ban, forfeit assets –Britain

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Catriona Laing, has
warned that Nigerian politicians who incite or execute violence
during Saturday’s elections would have their visas banned and
assets in the UK seized, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Laing gave the warning at a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja
to unveil the Election Situation Room of the Civil Society set up
by a coalition of civil society organisations to monitor the polls
in Abuja.

She reminded politicians that apart from the possibility of
having their assets seized in the UK, they could experience a worst
case scenario of prosecution.

“We will apply this absolutely across board not directed to any
particular party; we are monitoring and looking out for hate
speech.

“Our two worries are on security, not just on the role the
police will play to ensure peace but about the role individuals
play by getting angry or militias being paid to disrupt
elections.

“Then, another worry is fake news, that is why we rely on CSOs
and we will work with them to get information,’’ she said

The UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, thanked the CSOs for the inauguration of the
situation room, describing it as a good work towards the
elections.

Chambas said it showed that the groups were prepared for the
elections and ready to monitor the voting process, thus helping the
UN with ideas on the process in the country.

The American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington, said,
“The time has come for this outside world that cares so much about
Nigeria to listen to the people of Nigeria and to see what each of
them do and then forward the results to lift Nigeria up.’’