Osun Senator Risks US Visa Ban Over ‘Kill Accord Members’ Comment

A legal firm, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, has petitioned the United States Ambassador to Nigeria requesting a visa ban on Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi and members of his family, over remarks the lawmaker made calling for members of the Accord Party to be killed.

The Senator however rejected the claim on Tuesday noting he meant “kill Accord with votes.”

Despite the clarification, calls have intensified for him to face the full weight of the law. The police on Wednesday however invited the senator for questioning. Details of the outcome have not been made public.

But the public protest has continued with the law firm of human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju writing to the US Embassy in Abuja, requesting a visa ban.

The law firm indicated that the letter was made “in line with the United States’ continuous commitment to protecting democracy, free will and universal suffrage all over the world, and its long-standing restrictions on Nigerians who undermine democratic and electoral processes.”

The firm stated that Senator Fadahunsi, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was seen in a video addressing supporters in Yoruba and making remarks about members of the Accord Party.

According to the translation, the senator was quoted as saying, “From now on till the election day, whenever you see them (Accord Party members), kill them.”

The firm said it had attached a copy of the newspapers’ publications, along with a flash drive containing the video recording of the remarks, to the letter for reference.

The petition further criticised the conduct of Nigerian politicians broadly, stating: “For far too long, Nigerian politicians have acted with impunity in a manner that has subverted the will of the Nigeria people, undermined the rule of law, and caused substantial loss of lives and property of ordinary Nigerians.

“We use this medium to urge you to send a strong message to each and every one of them.”

The firm also called on the US to consider further sanctions in future cases involving Nigerian politicians accused of undermining the country’s democratic process, stating: “We hope that, in the future, the United States will consider the seizure of assets and the foreclosure of business interests of Nigerians who actively undermine the nation’s constitutional democratic process.”