The Nation Newspaper

Tag: embassy

  • Only 57 Nigerians in Japanese prisons, says Embassy

    Only 57 Nigerians in Japanese prisons, says Embassy

    The Embassy of Nigeria in Japan has refuted newspaper reports that 500 Nigerians are currently in Japanese prisons.

    The media were recently awash with reports in which a Nigerian pastor in Japan, Bishop Enoch Adebayo, claimed that 500 Nigerians were cooling their heels in Japanese prisons on drug-related offences.

    But in a statement denouncing the reports, the Embassy of Nigeria, through its spokesperson, Mr. Essesien Ntekim, said that while a significant number of Nigerians are in jail in Japan for drug-related offences, robberies, fraud, rape and domestic violence, it was also not true that the Mission has not been alive to its responsibility to its citizens resident in Japan as claimed by Adebayo.

    Ntekim faulted the figure claimed by Bishop Adebayo, saying that it was exaggerated to smear the Mission. He noted that the Mission meets regularly with members of the Nigerian community in Japan.

    The statement reads in part: “At the onset, the Embassy of Nigeria in Japan wishes to state categorically that the number of Nigerians in Japanese prisons is 57 and not 500 as erroneously claimed in the publication.

    “It is pertinent to mention that while a significant number of Nigerians in jail are on drug-related offences, others are on account of robbery, fraud, rape and domestic violence.

    “It is equally untrue that the Mission has not been alive to its responsibility to its citizens resident in Japan, as the Mission meets regularly with members of the Nigerian community in Japan.

    “More importantly, the Ambassador and officials of the Mission pay regular consular visits to Nigerians in prison in order to see to their welfare; the last of such was in May to June 2013. Another of such visits has been scheduled to start in early November 2013.” The statement also stated that the current President of the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan is Engineer Anthony Okpara and not Bishop Enoch Adebayo.

  • Reps condemn attack on Nigerian Embassy in Senegal

    Reps condemn attack on Nigerian Embassy in Senegal

    The Nnena Elendu-Ukeje headed House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday condemned the attack on the Nigerian Embassy in Senegal. It urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to liaise with the Senegalese authorities to bring the culprits to book.

    After listening to the briefing of the Nigerian Ambassador to Senegal, Mrs. Katyen Jackden on the March 5 attack, the committee members were shocked that the attack was carried out by Nigerians, adding that the destruction of property on the premises especially the pulling down and defacing of the Nigerian flag, were acts of treason and should not go unpunished.

    The committee also advised the Federal Government to make up its mind on if or not it was going to effectively fund the Nigerian Missions abroad or close down some in order to adequately fund the remaining ones.

    In her presentation; the envoy told committee members that on the fateful day, she was preparing to receive the Liberian Ambassador “when at about 11.10 am, persons, who later turned out to be Nigerians attacked the Embassy, causing the destruction of Mission’s vehicles including the Representational car, as well as vandalising the Chancery building.

    Mrs Jackden said: “Although, nobody died, some embassy staff sustained injuries and they are currently receiving medical attention.

    “The attack itself, as I eventually gathered, was occasioned by the alleged disappearance from the mortuary of the corpse of a Nigerian, Mr. Inogbulam Kingsley Inogbulam. She however lamented the security implication of the current location of the Chancery, saying it was a contributing factor to the ease with which the incident occurred.

  • Anti-Mohammed film: US Embassy meets Muslim clerics

    Anti-Mohammed film: US Embassy meets Muslim clerics

    The leadership of the Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Lagos State has held a meeting with officials of the United States Embassy led by the Consul-General Mr Jeffrey Hawkins on the global protests triggered by a film, Innocence of Muslims, against Prophet Mohammed.

    The meeting, according to CIO Coordinator, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, was to promote better understanding between Muslims in Nigeria and the government and people of US.

    He said the meeting looked at measures to prevent a recurrence of attempt to misrepresent Prophet Muhammad.

    He said Hawkins acknowledged the constructive dialogue approach adopted by the CIO and most Muslims in Nigeria to handle the issue.

    Speaking at a news conference yesterday at the Beleke Smith Memorial Central Mosque Hall, Surulere, Lagos mainland, Sheikh Abdurrahman Ahmad, who spoke on behalf of the CIO, commended the US government for the effort to seek the views of Muslims on how to promote better relations between the Muslim world and the US.

    He condemned the film and described the producers and promoters as pathological haters, enemies of international peace and security.

    He said though Muslims were enraged by the film, majority of them were cautious in their reactions by the teachings of the Prophet.

    He said: “There can never be a more effective guarantee of international peace and security than justice, equity, reciprocal respect and mutual understanding.

    “Muslims will never accept that the symbols of Islam, such as the creator, Allah, Prophet Muhammad and all other prophets sent by God, the Qur’an, and places of worship subjected to ridicule, insult and attack in the name of freedom of expression.”

    Amid the watchful eyes of the officials of State Security Service (SSS) and other security agents, many Muslims youth carried placards, expressing their disgust to the film.

    Flanked by various Islamic scholars, Sheikh Ahmad said Islam abhors the taking of lives of innocents.

    “That is why all well-meaning Muslims and members of CIO condemn, unequivocally, the deplorable death of the US Ambassador to Libya and three other US Embassy staff. This has no place in Islam. One very important lesson that we can all take from this is that it is absolutely wrong to judge a country or a people by the deeds of the minority of bad people in that country,” he said.

    He said no human freedom can be absolute.

    “We, therefore, urge the US government to provide legal guarantees that prevent people from infringing on the rights, honours and freedom of others while exercising their rights to freedom of expression.”

  • Threat of violence:US  embassy, facilities cut work hours

    Threat of violence:US  embassy, facilities cut work hours

    The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and all associated facilities in the country   shut down  as early as  11:30 a.m. yesterday as a precautionary measure following outrage in many parts of the world over a film said to have insulted Prophet Mohammed.
    Its  Consulate General in Lagos was  closed at 11:00 a.m.
    The Embassy in a statement said : “ Protests against a controversial film may occur in Jos, Kano, and other parts of Nigeria.  U.S. citizens may wish to limit their travels beyond their residential compounds during the afternoon of September 14.
    “The Embassy continues to work closely with Nigerian Police and security agencies, which continue to take proactive security measures to ensure public safety.  U.S. Citizens in Nigeria should consider their personal security and to keep personal safety in the forefront of their planning.
    “This year, extremists have attacked many locations in Nigeria, killing and injuring hundreds of people.  They have threatened churches, mosques, media houses, police stations, immigration and customs offices, financial institutions, large hotels, shopping malls and markets, state government offices, communications centers, beer gardens, and nightclubs.  Attackers have also burned and destroyed several public and private schools in Borno, and targeted several educational institutions in Kano and churches in Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, and Borno states.  Additionally, extremists continue to target westerners for abduction.  As such, the situation in the country remains fluid and unpredictable.
    “All U.S. citizens should use caution and discretion when deciding to attend large functions or visit establishments identified as potential targets, and respond appropriately if they detect suspicious activities.  Because of ongoing security concerns within the Federal Capital Territory, U.S. citizens should continue to expect heavy traffic congestion, road blocks, and significant police/security force deployments.  All U.S. citizens should remain vigilant, pay attention to their surroundings, limit exposure to large crowds, and keep their cellular telephones in close proximity for use in cases of emergency.
    “U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Nigeria are strongly advised to enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).  U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  By enrolling, you make it easier for the U.S. Mission in Nigeria to contact you in case of emergency.”