By Abiola Olawale
The Nigerian House of Representatives has formally written to the Canadian government, demanding an immediate investigation and prosecution of a Lady identified as Amaka Sunnberger, accused of sending death threats to Yoruba and Edo people living in that country.
In the petition jointly signed by the Chairman of the Nigerian-Canadian Parliamentary Friendship Group, Biodun Omoleye, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Matters, Tochukwu Okere, the lawmakers described the comments of Sunnberger as “hate speech and genocidal.”
In the petition, dated 28 August and addressed to the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, His Excellency James Christoff, the lawmakers claimed that Sunnberger violated several international and Canadian laws.
They said her comments violate Article 20(2) of the ICCPR, which prohibits advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence.
They listed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) – Article 4.
The lawmakers said she violated the Criminal Code of Canada – Sections 318 (1) and 319 (1 and 2)
The petition reads in part: “The promotion of genocide, as advocated by Ms. Sunberger, directly violates Section 318 (1) of the Criminal Code of Canada, which criminalises the promotion or advocacy of genocide against any identifiable group.
“Her public incitement of hatred against the Yoruba and Edo people is prohibited under Section 319 (1), which criminalises the communication of statements in public that incite hatred against any identifiable group, where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace,” they said.
It would be recalled that Sunnberger, a Nigerian-Canadian, was heard in a viral video threatening to poison any Yoruba or Benin person she came across at her workplace.
She was heard saying: “Record me very well; it’s time to start poisoning the Yoruba and the Benin. Put poison for all una food for work. Put poison for una water, make una dey kai one by one.”
