Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu has announced the deportation of Lafarge Cement managing director, Folayinka Esan, to Nigeria, citing behaviour likely to breach Zambia’s peace.
Lungu said Esan, 44, had his residence permit revoked and consequently cancelled for violating the Immigration and Deportation Act No.18 of 2010 before he was forced out of the country on Thursday.
“Mr. Esan who is a Nigerian national but holder of a British passport number 099241429 had his resident permit revoked and consequently cancelled on Wednesday 5th December, 2012 by the acting director general for immigration under section 34 (1) (E) of the Immigration and Deportation Act, No. 18 of 2010 because his conduct was found to be a danger to the peace and good order of Zambia,” Lungu disclosed.
“Esan was flown back to his country of origin, Nigeria, on Thursday, 6th December aboard South African Airlink Flight 855 at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe Airport around 13:00 hours as he no longer had status to allow him continue residing in the country.”
Lungu explained that Esan, who was out of the country the time the resident permit was revoked, was intercepted at Kenneth Kaunda
International Airport on Wednesday around 20:30 hours upon entering the country and was immediately booked on the South African Airlink which was at that time the only next available flight.
“When permits are given, there are conditions which the holder is expected to abide by and strictly adhere to, failure to which any violation of such conditions may attract punishment in accordance with the provisions of the Act,” he said.
Since coming into power in 2011, the Patriotic Front government has carried out several controversial deportations, sometimes based on political motives, including a Catholic priest who was critical of the government, a hotel manager, and business executives of Zambezi Portland Cement and LAP Green (former owners of expropriated Zamtel).