UK Threatens To Drag Nigeria To Int Criminal Court Over £8.4m Debt

The UK Transport for London (TfL) has described the Nigerian government as one of its “stubborn minority” debtors for failing to pay up her £8.4 million debt which has piled up for 20 years

Nigeria, owing £8,395,055, ranked fourth among the UK’s 48 foreign debtors who have evaded embassy rent since 2003. 

Surprisingly, the American embassy ranked first in the list of debtors owing nearly £15 million, followed by Japan (£10 million) and the High Commission for India (£8.5 million).

“The majority of embassies in London do pay the charge, but there remains a stubborn minority who refuse to do so, despite our representations through diplomatic channels,” the UK government said.

TfL clarified that the embassy congestion charge was payment for service, not tax, which makes it applicable to diplomats.

The congestion charge, according to TfL, “is a charge for a service and not a tax,” adding that “diplomats are not exempted from paying it.”

The UK government said it was pushing to escalate the matter to the International Court of Justice to ensure offending nations get penalised should they refuse to pay.

“We will continue to pursue all unpaid Congestion Charge fees and related penalty charge notices and are pushing for the matter to be taken up at the International Court of Justice,” TfL stated.

According to People’s Gazette, the call out follows the appeal of Nigerian FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, who in February, asked the British High Commission and other foreign embassies to pay up their ground rent or risk revocation of licence.

According to Mr Wike, the British High Commission owed the Nigerian government $1,000.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG