Nigerian Woman Wanted for Crime of Being Bisexual
Chinyeaka Immaculata Onwuzurike is wanted for “being involved in Bisexual Activities”.
A notice placed in a Nigerian national newspaper, believed to be the Daily Times, asks that anyone who has ‘relevant information’ as to the whereabouts of Onwuzurike of Lagos should contact the police.
A photograph of the notice was shared yesterday to social media by Seun Kuti, son of afrobeat originator and human rights activist Fela Kuti. It is believed the ad appeared on 27 April.
Throughout Nigeria it is a crime to engage in same sex sexual activity; the offence carries a 14 year prison sentence. The crime of supporting LGBT rights carries a prison sentence of ten years. In some states of Nigeria, the threat of capital punishment also exists.
It is not currently clear if Onwuzurike is wanted for engaging in a same-sex sexual activities or simply being… Continue reading
Biscuit shares panel with asylum seeker Aderonke Apata
Last weekend, Biscuit’s editor-in-chief Lottie was privileged enough to join a panel of inspiring lesbian and bisexual woman at the Lesbian and Gay Foundation’s Sugar and Spice event. One of these was Nigerian Aderonke Apata, who is fighting to stay in the country in light of a Home Office ruling that she cannot be a lesbian because she has children and has been in heterosexual relationships.
Apata appeared in the High Court last week to challenge the Home Office’s decision to refuse her asylum. During the hearing, Home Secretary barrister Andrew Bird insisted that she was simply someone who had “indulged in same-sex activity”. “You can’t be a heterosexual one day and a lesbian the next day,” he asserted.”Just as you can’t change your race.” Apata was told that the results of her appeal would arrive at the end of the month. Outside the court, Apata fell into the arms of her wife-to-be, Happiness Agboro.
Biscuit’s Lottie Dingle joins Aderonke Apata on a Lesbian and Gay Foundation panel
Apata’s story is a harrowing one. When Apata’s family found out she had a female partner, they dragged her to a Sharia court to be stoned for adultery. A “legal technicality” gave her the time she needed to flee to England. After she left, her female partner of 20 years was killed by vigilantes.
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