The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday
sounded a note of warning to the spokeswoman of the United States of
America Embassy, Deb MacLean over comments concerning the state pardon
the National Council of State granted the former Governor of Bayelsa
State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Deputy Chief of Mission of the
Embassy to protest a statement credited to Deb MacLean on the Embassy’s
Twitter account stating that it is ‘‘deeply disappointed’’ over the
pardon granted to former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha.
The Embassy of the United States of America is also reported to have described the pardon as ‘‘a setback in the fight against corruption’’ in Nigeria.
In the protest conveyed via a diplomatic note, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the comment from the US Embassy in Abuja, which it described as undue interference and ‘meddlesomeness’ in the internal affairs of Nigeria.
The foreign Ministry pointed out that this was not the first time the Nigerian government or elsewhere would grant state pardon to individuals who have committed one crime or the other.
The Ministry further stressed that the pardon granted is entirely consistent with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
The Ministry expressed the hope that the Embassy of the United States of America would henceforth desist from making unwarranted comments on Nigeria’s internal affairs which are capable of undermining the friendly relations that exist between them.
The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Deputy Chief of Mission of the
Embassy to protest a statement credited to Deb MacLean on the Embassy’s
Twitter account stating that it is ‘‘deeply disappointed’’ over the
pardon granted to former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha.The Embassy of the United States of America is also reported to have described the pardon as ‘‘a setback in the fight against corruption’’ in Nigeria.
In the protest conveyed via a diplomatic note, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the comment from the US Embassy in Abuja, which it described as undue interference and ‘meddlesomeness’ in the internal affairs of Nigeria.
The foreign Ministry pointed out that this was not the first time the Nigerian government or elsewhere would grant state pardon to individuals who have committed one crime or the other.
The Ministry further stressed that the pardon granted is entirely consistent with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
The Ministry expressed the hope that the Embassy of the United States of America would henceforth desist from making unwarranted comments on Nigeria’s internal affairs which are capable of undermining the friendly relations that exist between them.
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