DJ Switch Asylum: ‘We Don’t Accept Refugee Applications From People’ – Canada – #LekkiMassacre—–Clarifying media reports of the country granting DJ Switch asylum after fleeing Nigeria, Canada has said that it does not accept refugee applications directly from people.
The Country’s high commission in Nigeria in a tweet posted on Wednesday denied granting the DJ a safe haven. It however said that it can only consider applications from individuals who must be referred by a designated referral organization or a private sponsor.
The Genius media recalls that information made the rounds in Nigeria media space that Obianuju Catherine Udeh (DJ Switch) has been granted asylum in Canada over alleged death threats on her life for recording the shooting incident at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos on October 20, 2020.
Although she did not claim to be in Canada, Nigerians went agog on Twitter with rumours that she had been granted asylum, especially after she testified before a committee of the Canadian parliament via video conference.
The statement by the Canada high commission reads:
“In light of recent events, we have received great interest in Canadian immigration programs.
“Canadian Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates, Consulates General or Honorary Consulates do not accept refugee applications directly from people. Canada works with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), other designated referral organizations and private sponsors to identify individuals in need of resettlement, and who are outside their home country.
“You cannot apply directly for resettlement. You must be referred to Canada by a designated referral organization or a private sponsor. Don’t be fooled by rumours or false information online. No one can guarantee that your immigration application will be fast-tracked or approved. Only a Canadian migration officer can decide if you can come to Canada.
“All the information you need to apply to visit or immigrate to Canada is available free on the official Government of Canada website: http://cic.gc.ca. For information about other immigration programs you might be eligible for, use the Come to Canada tool: http://Canada.ca/come-to-canada.”
