Badenoch's Claim of Nigerian Citizenship for her Children is Refuted by a Nigerian Immigration Lawyer.

In contrast to the recent assertion made by Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the British Opposition and Conservative Party, regarding her children’s inability to obtain Nigerian citizenship due to her marriage to a British man, esteemed Nigerian immigration lawyer Prince Ebere Nwokoro has refuted these claims. In a statement issued in response to this matter, Prince Nwokoro, who serves as the 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Immigration Lawyers Association (NILA), emphasized that the statement does not accurately represent the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution concerning citizenship. He stated, "Nigeria’s nationality law is founded on the principle of jus sanguinis, which permits citizenship to be inherited through descent. "The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) explicitly states that an individual born to a Nigerian parent—irrespective of their birthplace—may qualify for Nigerian citizenship. In particular, Section 25(1) of the Constitution delineates the criteria for citizenship by birth, while Section 26(1) pertains to citizenship by registration." The NILA 1st Vice President further contended that, "Considering that Kemi Badenoch is a Nigerian citizen by birth, pursuant to Section 25(1)(c) of the Constitution, her children are entitled to Nigerian citizenship under the stipulations of Section 25(1)(c) and/or Section 26(1)(b), whether through parental descent or grandparental lineage. "These provisions guarantee that: a) children born to Nigerian citizens—regardless of whether the mother or father is Nigerian—can obtain citizenship, irrespective of their birthplace or the citizenship status of the other parent; and b) any individual of full age and capacity born outside Nigeria, whose grandparents are Nigerian citizens, may register as a citizen of Nigeria. He highlighted that as a prominent figure, Ms. Badenoch should recognize the importance of precision and clarity in public discussions regarding significant issues such as citizenship. The esteemed legal expert remarked that misrepresentation of facts in this context may result in misunderstandings and a flawed public perception of our citizenship laws. Consequently, he urged public figures to be meticulous in their portrayal of the law to prevent the continuation of misleading narratives that could significantly impact Nigeria’s legal system and national identity. In light of this, Prince Nwokoro called upon everyone to dismiss Kemi’s claim as ‘contra legem’ since it does not accurately represent Nigeria’s citizenship framework.