Peter Obi can’t be trusted until he explains why he was detained at UK airport – Former Minister

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who is also Director, New Media sub-committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, has told the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi that he would not be trusted unless he explained what led to his detention by British immigration officers at Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom.

The former minister of aviation said this in a series of tweets posted on Wednesday.

Peter Obi was detained and questioned by some immigration officials in London, United Kingdom, according to one of the LP candidate’s former aides, Prof. Chinyere Okunna, a Mass Communications scholar, and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Paul University Awka. 

Obi was reportedly detained for hours after his British Airways plane landed at Heathrow Airport. The matter was reportedly connected to a case of “duplicate identity”.

Some days after the incident, Obi, in what appeared to be a reaction to the recent questioning by immigration officers in London, stated that he will not knowingly break any law.

Fani-Kayode said Obi cannot be trusted until he tells Nigerians the reason for his detention.

He said Obi must clarify if he violated British laws, either knowingly or unknowingly.

Fani Kayode stated, “Until Peter Obi tells us what happened to him at Heathrow Airport and why he was accosted and detained by British immigration officials over Easter, he cannot be trusted or taken seriously.

“Peter Obi’s claim that he never “knowingly” broke the law speaks volumes and suggests that he broke it “unknowingly”.

“Sadly for him not knowing that you broke the law when you actually broke it is no defence and in any case, there are some crimes that are known as “strict liability offences” which do not even need any premeditation.

“Whichever way if Peter violated the law in any shape or form, knowingly or unknowingly, he is in trouble and he will have a case to answer.”