The petition, dated August 28, 2024, was filed by Mr. Biodun Omoleye, Chairman of the Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, and Mr. Tochukwu Chinedu Okere, Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Matters.
The Nigerian House of Representatives has submitted a formal petition to His Excellency James Christoff, the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, concerning Amaka Patience Sunnberger, a Nigerian woman based in Canada.
The petition, dated August 28, 2024, was filed by Mr. Biodun Omoleye, Chairman of the Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, and Mr. Tochukwu Chinedu Okere, Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Matters.
The petition addresses alarming statements made by Sunnberger in a recent TikTok live video, where she incited violence against Yoruba and Benin people.
In the video, Sunnberger called for the poisoning of food and water sources as a means of mass killing and encouraged people from the South-East region of Nigeria or Igbo people, to adopt a militant stance against Yoruba and Benin communities in other regions.
The Nigerian House of Representatives has condemned these actions as incitement to genocide and hate speech.
The petition reads: "On behalf of the Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group and the House Committee on Diaspora Matters, we are writing to express our deep concern regarding the actions of Ms. Amaka Patience Sunnberger, a Nigerian citizen residing in Canada. Ms. Sunnberger has recently been recorded making inflammatory statements that incite violence against the Yoruba and Edo ethnic groups in Nigeria, including advocating for the poisoning of food and water supplies to achieve mass genocide."
According to the letter, "Ms. Sunnberger's recorded statements constitute a direct threat to the lives and safety of millions of Nigerians. Her incitement to violence and call for genocide through poisoning are not only deeply troubling but also represent a clear violation of multiple international, Canadian, and Ontario laws".
The Reps stated that such rhetoric is dangerous and has the potential to incite real-world violence, both in Nigeria and in the Nigerian community in the diaspora.
According to the member of the House of Representatives, Ms. Sunnberger’s actions breach various international, Canadian, and Ontario laws.
Quoting the law she violated, they said, "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - Article 20(2): Ms. Sunnberger’s actions violate Article 20(2) of the ICCPR, which prohibits any advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that incites discrimination, hostility, or violence.
"International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) - Article 4: Her conduct also breaches Article 4 of ICERD, which requires state parties to combat the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, including incitement to genocide."
"Criminal Code of Canada - Section 318(1): Ms. Sunnberger’s promotion of genocide violates Section 318(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada, which criminalizes the advocacy of genocide against any identifiable group.
"Criminal Code of Canada - Section 319(1): Her public incitement of hatred against the Yoruba and Edo peoples contravenes Section 319(1), which prohibits statements that incite hatred against identifiable groups, especially if such statements are likely to breach the peace.
"Criminal Code of Canada - Section 319(2): Additionally, her willful promotion of hatred through advocacy for mass poisoning and genocide is punishable under Section 319(2) of the Criminal Code.
"Criminal Code of Canada - Section 264.1: Ms. Sunnberger’s threats of poisoning as a method of killing violate Section 264.1, which prohibits threats to cause death or bodily harm.
"Ontario Human Rights Code - Sections 1 & 13(1): Her hate speech breaches Sections 1 and 13(1) of the Ontario Human Rights Code, which safeguard individuals from discrimination and harassment based on race and ethnicity. Her advocacy for genocide against specific ethnic groups directly undermines these protections."
They, however, requested immediate action. In light of the seriousness of these violations, we respectfully request the following actions:
“An immediate and thorough investigation should be conducted into Ms. Sunnberger's actions by Canadian law enforcement and appropriate authorities.
"We urge that Ms. Sunnberger be prosecuted under the relevant sections of the Criminal Code of Canada to hold her accountable for her incitement to genocide and hate speech.”
The federal lawmakers requested that the Canadian government issue a public condemnation of Ms. Sunnberger's actions to reaffirm Canada's commitment to combating hate speech, violence, and genocide.
They also requested that Canadian authorities collaborate with Nigerian authorities to prevent any potential escalation of violence as a result of Ms. Sunnberger's incitement and to ensure that justice is served.
The petition seeks intervention from the Canadian authorities to address the issue and ensure that Ms. Sunnberger's statements are thoroughly investigated and acted upon.
Canada and Nigeria share a strong bilateral relationship founded on mutual respect for human rights and the rule of law.
They added that the actions of Ms. Sunnberger threaten to undermine these values. We trust that you will take all necessary steps to address this issue in accordance with Canadian and international law.
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