By Idris Adesina

London, Nov. 30, 2017 (AltAfrika)-The new Nigerian High Commissioner to United Kingdom, UK, His Excellency Ambassador George Adesola Oguntade has made a passionate appeal to leaders of various Nigerian communities in UK under the umbrella of Nigerian Council of Elders to assist the Commission to educate Nigerians in UK on the need to defend their rights and resist extortion from any members of the commission.

Ambassador Oguntade who received the leadership of the council during a courtesy call was responding to recent allegations that some members of the Commission were in the habit of demanding money in the discharge of their duties

The High Commissioner was very emphatic that such conduct was illegal. “I want to say clearly and categorically that such transactions are not authorised and if anybody offers to render service to you for money, don’t hesitate to drop a note to us here”

He admitted the challenges of the Commission in the area of delayed passport issuance but added ” it is true that for some reasons passport don’t come too quickly, but we are working on that administratively. But that is not an authority for anybody to take money from you. if anybody ask for money from you, please in the name of God I beg you, alert us we shall take action.

“Nobody has authorised anybody to receive money for duties which are entitlement to you. Please spread the word, we don’t take bribes here from anybody”

Ambassador Oguntade also appealed to the elders to donate their wisdom to assist resolve the ongoing crisis in the leadership of the Central Association Of Nigerians in the United Kingdom, (CANUK) which has defied all solutions.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Elders Council Mr Adebayo Oladimeji had told the High Commissioner and his team that one of main objectives of the council “is to foster good relationship amongst Nigerians resident in the UK through different associations and unions”.

The council according to him has at different time donated money and materials to different charity organisations at home and in the UK

Mr Oladimeji assured the High Commissioner that the council will intervene and bring the warring factions of CANUK to the negotiation table for a peaceful resolution of their problems