Peter Obi: I was never arrested in London

Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the 2023 election, has denied

recent speculations and reports that he was arrested in the United Kingdom. During an interview on Arise Television on Monday, Obi disclosed that he was not arrested or charged with any offence in the country. Instead, he was stopped for a routine immigration check because there appeared to be a duplication of his identity.

 

Obi clarified that the interview with the immigration official lasted for about 20 minutes, and he was treated with respect throughout the encounter. He stressed that he had never committed any offence in the UK during the 12 years he lived there, from 1993 to 2005. He also reiterated that he had never been questioned, arrested, or detained for any reason in any country in the world.

 

According to Obi, the routine check was quickly resolved, and he was given all due respect by the border personality that interviewed him. He was even warned about the possibility of identity duplication and given a VIP treatment. Obi also said he had a written document from the British government clarifying the situation.

 

However, he expressed his concern over the negative impact of the false reports on Nigerians, particularly those who arrived with him in the UK. Obi said some Nigerians felt traumatised over the development and believed that he had been detained and committed several offences, including tax evasion.

 

Obi maintained his innocence and emphasized that he had not committed any offence. He stated that the immigration check was a routine process, and he was treated with respect throughout the encounter. Obi also called on Nigerians to disregard the false reports and focus on the issues that matter in the forthcoming election.