Ambassador Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria has said that the letter submitted at 10 Downing Street by Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, was not endorsed by any UK government agency or Parliament Committee.

No: MEA/PR/2024/21

STATEMENT ON PRESS COVERAGE IN THE UK ON A YORUBA NATION PETITION HANDED TO No 10 DOWNING STREET.

Following media reports on the petition submitted at 10 Downing Street by Mr. Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, The British High Čommissioner in Abuja was invited to shed light on the issue. During the parlay, the High Commissioner noted the concern that the matter had generated, indicating that the press reports were highly misleading.

Furthermore, the High Commissioner informed he was aware of the letter being delivered but added that it was merely an established practice of allowing the delivery of letters and petitions to No 10. It was not endorsed by any Agency of the UK government or the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee.

The High Commissioner noted that the UK government typically does not concern itself with petitions concerning the sovereign afairs of another country. He informed that such petitions had been rejected by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee and the UK Government in the past.

In this regard, He agreed to continue liaising with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as needed, while reiterating the importance of the bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Signed:

Amb. Eche Abu-Obe

Spokesperson

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Tuesday, 15th October, 2024