UK councillor convicted after suggesting Nigerians be melted to fill potholes

A UK court has convicted Sunderland councillor Glenn Gibbins over grossly offensive comments targeting Nigerians, sentencing him to a 12-month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work.

A United Kingdom court has convicted Sunderland councillor Glenn Gibbins, 66, over a grossly offensive Facebook post targeting Nigerians living in the city.

According to The PUNCH, Gibbins was found guilty following a three-hour trial at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Punch Newspapers+1

District Judge Zoe Passfield sentenced the suspended Reform UK councillor to a 12-month community order involving 150 hours of unpaid work.

The March 2024 post suggested Nigerians should be melted down and used to fill potholes.

Prosecutor Emma Dowling condemned the remarks, stating, “The comment about melting them down conjures up despicable images.”

Gibbins admitted the comments were offensive but denied they were grossly offensive.

“I thought it was a tongue-in-cheek joke. It was an unreal scenario. No one took it literally,” he said.

Nigerian community leader Godwin Ejeh condemned the remarks, stressing that the controversy concerned human dignity rather than politics.

Gibbins was suspended by Reform UK after the post surfaced.