Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to introduce Magnitsky sanctions against the prosecutors and judge involved in the imprisonment of the President of the Nigerian Humanist Association, Mubarak Bala.

The UK Government has followed Mr Bala's case closely, and are concerned by the severity and length of sentence received by Mr Bala at trial. We do not speculate on potential future sanctions designations as to do so may undermine their effectiveness.

We will continue to follow developments in Mr Bala's case closely and stress the importance of Mr Bala being treated in full accordance with his human rights, the rule of law, and the Nigerian constitutional right to freedom of religion or belief.