Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Nigeria has neither denied nor confirmed ties to a terrorist cell uncovered in Lagos.
Apart from shutting it’s doors against
the media, the Embassy located at No 1 Udi Hills, Asokoro, a few meters
away from the National Headquarters of the State Security Service, is
yet to come up with an official response.
This came barely 24 hours after the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, summoned the
Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Saeed Koozechi, to register the Federal
Government’s displeasure with the development.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Mr. Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode, confirmed the Ambassador’s invitation in
a telephone interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday.
He said, “The Honourable Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru summoned the Iranian
Ambassador to Nigeria to register our displeasure over the matter. For
now, we expect the case to go trial on and we will take it from there.”
Our correspondent who was at the Embassy on Thursday, was not allowed beyond the security post.
An Iranian official, who identified
himself as Mr. Faragi, said, “We are preparing a statement which we will
e-mail to you.” The call was made at exactly 1: 41pm.
However, as at 5:45pm when another call
was put through to him, he claimed the statement was ready but that the
Ambassador had yet to vet it for release.
He also explained that even if the
Ambassador was around to okay its release, the Nigerian employee, who
had the responsibility of sending the e-mail, had closed for the day,
and would not be available till Friday (today).
On his part, the Iranian Ambassador to
Nigeria appears to have gone underground as his mobile telephone rang
repeatedly without him picking calls.
Hours later, apparently tired of persistent calls from the media, the phone set indicated was switched off.
PUNCH
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