Bad News as Canada Rejects Ex-SARS Officer’s Application for Asylum
- Olushola Popoola, a former officer of the defunct SARS unit of the Nigerian police, may not get a chance to stay in Canada as a refugee
- Popoola's application for asylum in the nation has been rejected following claims that he belonged to the embattled unit surrounded by human right violation allegations
- The decision was disclosed by the Canadian ministry of public safety and preparedness
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The application for asylum in Canada by Olushola Popoola, a former Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has been rejected in a court of law.
In a statement by Canada's ministry of public safety and preparedness sighted by Legit.ng, Popoola's application was turned down because he was a member of the defunct unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) which has been accused of human rights violation.
Source: Twitter
Although he claimed refugee status in the foreign country, his claim was suspended and his case forwarded to the Immigration Division (ID) of the Immigration and Refugee Board for determination.
The decision of the nation's federal court, dated Thursday, April 8, was read by Sébastien Grammond.
Part of the verdict read:
"Popoola is a citizen of Nigeria and a former member of the Nigerian Police Force. He was found to be inadmissible to Canada because there are reasonable grounds to believe that he engaged in crimes against humanity while serving as a police officer in Nigeria.
"He now seeks judicial review of his determination of inadmissibility. I am dismissing his application because the decision-maker reasonably assessed the relevant factors for deciding whether Mr. Popoola made a knowing and significant contribution to the crimes committed by the Nigerian Police Force.
"Since Mr. Popoola reasonably knew that when he was a member of the SARS the suspects he handed over to the criminal investigation department would be subject to human rights violations, the tribunal finds this to be a significant contribution to the criminal purpose of the organization since he had the knowledge of what could befall the individual subject to investigation."
Meanwhile, a young lady was in a celebratory mood as she finally got justice.
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The Nigerian lady identified as Felicia Nkemakolam Opara, in a Twitter post, said she had suffered police brutality at the last #EndSARS protest.
Source: Legit.ng
