Section 20: Meaning of "refugee", etc.

(1) For the purposes of this Act, etc. a person shall be considered a refugee if he falls within the definition provided by-
(a) Article 1 of the 1951 United Nations Convention set out in the First Schedule to this Act;
(b) Article 1 of the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugee, set out in the Second Schedule to this Act;
(c) Article I of the 1969 Organisation of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, set out in the Third Schedule to this Act.
(2) A person shall not be considered to be a refugee under this Act-
(a) when there are serious reasons to believe that he has committed a crime against peace, war crime or a crime against humanity, as defined in any international instrument to which Nigeria is a party and which has been drawn up to make provisions in respect of such crimes; or
(b) he has committed a serious non-political crime outside Nigeria prior to his entry;
(c)
he has been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the Organisation of African Unity.
(3) A person shall cease to be a refugee under this Act if-
(a) he has voluntarily re-availed himself of the protection of the country of his nationality; or
(b) he has voluntarily re-established himself in the country which he left, or outside which he remained owing to fear of persecution; or
(c) he can no longer, because the circumstances in connection with which he was granted a refugee status have ceased to exist, continue to refuse to avail himself of the protection of the country of his nationality.