To The Ambassador, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Neue Jakobstr. 4 10179 Berlin , Your Excellency, Ambassador Abdul-Kadir Bin Rimdap, I am writing this letter with regard to the issue of recent forced embassy appointments for Nigerian refugees living in Germany. I feel this issue is very important for the relationship between the Nigerian Mission in Germany and Nigerian citizens residing in Germany. I have recently learned that the Nigerian Embassy is planning to hold yet another such hearing at the Landeseinwohneramt in January 2008 in Berlin in order to issue Nigerian citizens, residing with exceptional leave to remain (Duldung) in Germany, with travel certificates for the purpose of facilitating their deportation against their expressed will. I feel that this is in stark contrast with my view that a Nigerian Mission should have an interest in the welfare of all Nigerian citizens living abroad. The dishonourable circumstances under which such a hearing takes place clearly constitute a humiliation and a violation of the human rights of those whose welfare you should have a personal interest in and thus, any kind of such cooperation is prohibitive. I call upon you not to give in to the demands of the German authorities, who want you to aid in the forced repatriation of Nigerian citizens residing with exceptional leave to remain (Duldung) in Germany. I rather urge you to refuse any such services as the embassies of many countries do without any hesitation. I also would like to remind you that many Nigerian citizens were injured, traumatised and even died as a result of the violence that was visited upon them during their forcible return to Nigeria. In 1994, Kola Bankole choked on a sock that German officers forced into his mouth. In 1998, Semira Adamu perished while being deported from Belgium while in 1999, Marcus Omofuma met the same fate on his deportation from Austria. On the 9th of June 2007, Osamuyia Aikpitanhi died while being deported from Spain, an event that sparked outrage of Nigerians all over the world. I am also aware that the Nigerian embassy officials receive a sum of 500 Euros from the German authorities for each travel certificate issued. This payment by the German authorities is very questionable. I have decided to write you this letter because I believe that being an accomplished diplomat, you understand very well the issues involved in the politics of global migration. I also believe that from your background, you will share my moral and intellectual conviction, which is also enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, that migrants are entitled to protection due to humanitarian considerations, instead of being further intimidated, victimised and ultimately being inhumanely forcibly deported. I thank you for your anticipated kind co-operation. Yours sincerely ,