By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
Nigeriadecides- ASHENEWS reports that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the United States President, Joe Biden to impose a Visa ban on the sponsors of political violence in the country.
The organization, in a letter, addressed to Biden also called on the US to seize assets belonging to the sponsors and their families.
The letter signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP Deputy Director, said that such actions by the US would strengthen accountability, end impunity and deter human rights violators from engaging in such acts.
“Applying the presidential proclamations, Global Magnitsky Act, and Immigration and Nationality Act as recommended would be very helpful to the efforts to stop further violence before, during, and after elections, facilitate free and fair elections, and encourage the people to exercise their right to vote.
“The recommended travel bans, asset freezes, and property sanctions should also cover anyone who may perpetrate and sponsor violence and human rights crimes during the postponed elections in 141 polling units, and the governorship elections scheduled for March 2023.
“SERAP welcomes your government’s publicly expressed commitment to impose visa restrictions on officials, politicians, and other perpetrators and sponsors of election-related intimidation, harassment, and violence. We urge you to include asset freezes and property sanctions on the list.
“Giving serious consideration to our recommendations and promptly implementing them would give meaning to this commitment, and demonstrate the willingness of your government to support and strengthen democracy, citizens’ participation, and the rule of law, as well as end a culture of election-related violence in Nigeria,” the letter read.
