United Kingdom and France says that Nigeria did not ask them to shutdown Radio Biafra and did not contact them on IPOB. But Mr. Lai said otherwise

United Kingdom and France says that Nigeria did not ask them to shutdown Radio Biafra and did not contact them on IPOB. But Mr. Lai said otherwise



In what appears to be a response to the accusations of the Nigerian Government to the British Government that it was frustrating the shut-down of Radio Biafra which has its based in the United Kingdom, the UK has denied any complicity on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) crisis.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, had stated that theUK was frustrating efforts to shut-down Radio Biafra knowing about all the damages it is causing Nigeria and that the financial headquarters of the Biafra secessionist group (IPOB), was France.

“Who does not know that the IPOB internal radio is located in London? We know the diplomatic moves we have been taking and approaching the UK, all the damages it (Radio Biafra) has done, but they don’t see it that way, for them (the British government), it is about freedom of expression,” he said

“We have the records, we know IPOB collects money from many people from Diaspora, they collect money from many people in Nigeria they collect money from some foreign countries, this is clear. “Let me tell you, the financial headquarters is in France, we know…You have to block the sources of finance that is what I said recently,” he added

The UK and France however has vehemently denied the allegations, saying that Nigeria never contacted her on any IPOB issue.
Lai Mohammed (The Minister of Information and Culture)

The statement was issued by Claude Abily, the Political Counsellor at the French Embassy in Abuja.

“The Embassy of France was surprised by the statement made yesterday by the Minister of Information and Culture indicating that the “financial headquarters” of IPOB were in France.

“We don’t have any knowledge of a particular presence of IPOB in France and the Nigerian authorities never got in touch with the Embassy on this point.

“We stand ready to examine any information which could support this statement. Furthermore, we would like to reiterate that France actively cooperates with Nigeria in the field of security and that we strongly support the unity of the country,” it said

Also, the United Kingdom on Thursday denied receiving any request from the Nigerian Government as insinuated by Mr. Lai concerning shutting down Radio Biafra.

In a statement issued by Joe Abuku, the Press & Public Affairs Officer, British High Commission, “the UK is not aware of any representation from the Nigerian government about Radio Biafra.

“Were we to receive any such request, we would of course consider it carefully on the basis of the available evidence, recognising that freedom of speech and expression carries responsibilities.”



Source:pulse.ng