House Petitions Canadian Embassy over Sunnberger’s  Hate, Incitement to Genocide

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The House of Representatives, has petitioned the Canadian High Commission over one Amaka Patience Sunnberger for inciting genocide and hate speech against Yoruba and Edo ethnic groups in the country.

The Chairman, Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, Hon. Biodun Omoleye, in a petition dated August 28, 2024 and addressed to Canadian High Commissioner,  James Christoff, expressed concern over the actions of Sunnberger.
The petition read: “On behalf of the Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, we are writing to express our deep concern regarding the actions of Ms. Amaka Patience Sunnberger, a Nigerian citizen residing in Canada.

“Ms. Sunnberger has recently been recorded making inflammatory statements that incite violence against the Yoruba and Edo ethnic groups in Nigeria, including advocating for the poisoning of food and water supplies to achieve their mass genocide.
“Ms. Sunnberger’s recorded statements constitute a direct threat to the lives and safety of millions of Nigerians. Her incitement to violence and call for genocide through poisoning are not only deeply troubling but also represent a clear violation of multiple international, Canadian, and Ontario laws.”

The House added that  such rhetoric was dangerous and had the potential to incite real-world violence, both in Nigeria and within the Nigerian diaspora.
The Green Chamber pointed out that Sunnberger’s actions violated Article 20(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which prohibited advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that constituted incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence.

It noted that her conduct also contravened Article 4 of International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), which mandated state parties to take effective measures against the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, including the incitement to genocide.

The House stressed that promotion of genocide, as advocated by Sunnberger, directly violated Section 318 (1) of the Criminal Code of Canada, which criminalised the promotion or advocacy of genocide against any identifiable group.