UK to repatriate 400 Nigerian prisoners
02.04.2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009

The United Kingdom (UK) Minister of State for Immigration and Boarders, Mr Phil Woolas, has said there were about 400 Nigerians in UK prisons waiting to be repatriated.

Woolas said this during his visit to the Federal Ministry of Interior, where he sought cooperation to facilitate and fast-track immigration policies between both countries.

He also denied allegation of human rights violations against immigrants, especially prison inmates from Nigeria. “It is illegal in the UK to discriminate against people on the ground of race or religion or gender, so any such discrimination is treated seriously.

"Secondly, we have independent monitors of national and international monitory of prisons and detention centres. It is also a difficult area of public policy; that people are extremely in danger that we have to protect our prisoners and inmates. I know that there are allegations and we have investigated the allegations and satisfied that people are treated fairly and properly in what is nevertheless a very difficult circumstance," he said.

Responding, Minister of Interior, General Godwin Abbe (rtd), said efforts were being made by the two countries to ensure that the prisoners were successfully returned to the country. Abbe, however, said there were legislative constraints to the repatriation, which were being addressed.

“It is also clear that in the matter of prisoner transfer, we are waiting on the actions of the legislative arms of government of our country, so that the matter of consent is revisited, and the moment this is done, we are certain that prisoners involved in this movement will have their movement effected”, he said.
http://odili.net/news/source/2009/feb/4/212.html