Child Trafficking Allegation: Spanish Embassy Explain Why Nigeria U-17 Female Basketball Team Denied Entry Visas, NBBF Refutes Claim


The Spanish Embassy in Nigeria has revealed why they denied the Nigeria’s U-17 women’s Basketball team entry visas for the U-17 World Championship in Zaragoza, Spain, owing claim to child trafficking as major reason behind the denial.

According to statement of letter forwarded to Nigeria’s Honourable Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, the Embassy stated categorically that they acted on the allegation levelled by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP), that was suspicion of child trafficking in the proposed trip.

“The Consulate General of Spain in Lagos could not grant the visas on the bases of reliable information conveyed by MAPTIP stating that there was a serious suspicion of human trafficking based over some of the documents presented at the consulate,” the Spanish Embassy statement reads.

In a swift reaction to the allegation against the body, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has written the Embassy in their Kofo Abayomi Victoria Island office in Lagos State in order to clarify the allegation of child trafficking levelled against the federation.

“We refer to the above subject and find it necessary to approach you for an official explanation regarding your decision to deny visas to our team to join other teams for the World U17 Women’s Championship in Zaragoza.

“Eventually, when pressure was mounted on you by the media, you sent out an email claiming that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons(NAPTIP) informed you about a strong suspicion of human trafficking, which was why you denied the visas. You also gave the same reason to Fiba and Spanish basketball officials who contacted you on the matter.

“We followed up this allegation at NAPTIP and they vehemently denied this claim and promptly called you up to register their denial. You then changed gear and said the applications were late, irregular and signed by a dead person; a clear afterthought in view of pressure mounted on you by the Nigerian public for an unfair, untenable and inexcusable discretion.

. The Spanish Embassy letter
. The Spanish Embassy letter

“Now that the irreparable damage has been done, we believe it has dawned on you that this is one denial too many and since you have truncated the basketball dreams, hopes and aspirations of these kids by denying them a date with the world stage in Spain, you have also lost the moral authority to keep the visa fees that you say are non-refundable and we ask that you return the fees to us with an apology to make up for this massive shortcoming.

“In addition, we wish to inform you that we invested almost 5 weeks of resources and hard work to keep the team in training camp transported them to Lagos from Abuja for the visa biometric capture and paid for travel insurance and air ticket for every member of the delegation in full. You may consider compensating us by reimbursing this huge expenditure which in no way will lessen the emotional distress or financial loss suffered.

“If you do that, then at least, we would testify to your effort to positively project the bilateral relations between our two countries. We have attached pre-departure team photos of the girls most affected by your decision for your records. Please, accept our best regards,” the NBBF statement concluded.

The Nigeria U-17 female basketball team won silver medal at the African U-16 Championship in Madagascar last year where they qualified for the U-17 World Championship which began June 22 (Wednesday) in Spain.

http://saharareporterssport.com/spanish-embassy-explain-why-nigeria-u-17-basketball-female-team-were-denied-visas-nbbf-refutes-claim/

Imagine. See reasons sha

This people no allow my sister go spain ;(

wiloy2k8:


“We followed up this allegation at NAPTIP and they vehemently denied this claim and promptly called you up to register their denial. You then changed gear and said the applications were late, irregular and signed by a dead person; a clear afterthought in view of pressure mounted on you by the Nigerian public for an unfair, untenable and inexcusable discretion.

Ga-gan-ga-gan! Yawa!!

wiloy2k8:
“Now that the irreparable damage has been done, we believe it has dawned on you that this is one denial too many and since you have truncated the basketball dreams, hopes and aspirations of these kids by denying them a date with the world stage in Spain, you have also lost the moral authority to keep the visa fees that you say are non-refundable and we ask that you return the fees to us with an apology to make up for this massive shortcoming.

“In addition, we wish to inform you that we 1 invested almost 5 weeks of resources and hard work to keep the team in training camp 2 transported them to Lagos from Abuja for the visa biometric capture and 3 paid for travel insurance and air ticket for every member of the delegation in full. You may consider compensating us by reimbursing this huge expenditure which in no way will lessen the emotional distress or financial loss suffered.

“If you do that, then at least, we would testify to your effort to positively project the bilateral relations between our two countries... Please, accept our best regards,”

I dey feel NBBF die! See 'list' et 'treat'.
Meanwhile sorry to the team whose time has been wated! (When i been hear say some of 'em girls commot from school just for this competition, Chai!)