Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor of Lagos State, has denied a claim made by Olubusayo Fasidi, an immigration lawyer in the United States, that he ever relinquished his Nigerian citizenship.
Hamzat had taken an oath of allegiance in the US rennouncing his Nigerian citizenship, according to Fasidi, who testified on behalf of Labour Party (LP) candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour in his petition challenging the election of state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Hamzat, though, called the claim “misleading and inaccurate” in a statement released through his media office on Saturday, June 24. 2023 while urging the people to disregard the “deliberate falsehood” that was being circulated, claiming that the witness’ veracity had been seriously questioned.
The viral report, according to the deputy governor of Lagos State, was not an accurate representation of the tribunal proceedings. Forms 8CFR/337 and N400, which are known as the empty US naturalisation application form and the empty US oath of allegiance document, respectively, were allegedly provided as evidence by the witness, according to him.
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The tribunal acknowledged the proffered documents and designated them as exhibits.
When the witness was informed that her claim was supported only by blank documents, she admitted downloading them from the US Embassy’s official website, according to Hamzat.
He said that the witness was unable to show the real papers establishing the US as the country under which he was supposed to have sought for naturalisation or taken the oath of loyalty, or even the date of those events.
“She equally admitted that she had not been present at the ceremony admitting Dr. Hamzat as a citizen of the United States of America.”
“During her cross-examination by counsel to the 4th respondent (APC), the witness admitted to the fact that the American constitution recognizes dual citizenship with particular reference to the 14th amendment to the constitution of the United States ratified on July 9, 1868.
“The witness was challenged further that the documents she tendered support the process of application for naturalisation which ultimately culminates in the issuance of an American passport and nothing more.
“The witness, in reaction to additional questions, confirmed that she did not need to obtain a Nigerian visiting visa because she entered the country with her Nigerian passport.
“With respect to the question whether the witness was aware that Dr Hamzat fully disclosed the details of his American citizenship in the Form EC9 submitted to INEC, the witness answered in the affirmative,” the statement.added.
