A
Nigerian journalist on fact-finding mission to the Nigerian High
Commission in London, where President Muhammadu Buhari is said to be
spending his medical vacation, was threatened and pursued and pursued by
officials and securitymen guarding the premises.
Located
in the posh Campden Hill area of the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
in West London, the building, nicknamed Abuja House, is one of the most
prominent buildings on the street. Across the road is the home of the
High Commissioner of South Africa to the UK.
in the posh Campden Hill area of the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
in West London, the building, nicknamed Abuja House, is one of the most
prominent buildings on the street. Across the road is the home of the
High Commissioner of South Africa to the UK.
Buhari,
according to Presidency officials, have been residing at the place
since he left Nigeria after informing the National Assembly and
transferring power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as Acting President
on January 19.
according to Presidency officials, have been residing at the place
since he left Nigeria after informing the National Assembly and
transferring power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as Acting President
on January 19.
The Lagos-based daily The Nation
said its London Bureau Chief turned up at the place on Sunday (February
12) met with the Buhari’s cousin, Alhaji Mamman Daura, who visited the
President.
said its London Bureau Chief turned up at the place on Sunday (February
12) met with the Buhari’s cousin, Alhaji Mamman Daura, who visited the
President.
Continuing, The Nation
said: “At exactly 1.05 pm (London time), two young women believed to be
President Buhari’s daughters were driven out of the Abuja House in a
black Mercedes Benz car. The vehicle returned at 2.24 pm without its
passengers.
said: “At exactly 1.05 pm (London time), two young women believed to be
President Buhari’s daughters were driven out of the Abuja House in a
black Mercedes Benz car. The vehicle returned at 2.24 pm without its
passengers.
“At
1.20 pm, Daura arrived in a London black cab. He was with two others.
Daura, who left at about 2.50 pm, declined comments when asked about how
the President was getting on. He said; ‘I came here with Asiwaju (Bola
Tinubu) the other day, didn’t you see it?’
1.20 pm, Daura arrived in a London black cab. He was with two others.
Daura, who left at about 2.50 pm, declined comments when asked about how
the President was getting on. He said; ‘I came here with Asiwaju (Bola
Tinubu) the other day, didn’t you see it?’
“Shortly
after, the serenity of the street was shattered (at about 3.30pm), when
five officials – two contracted private security guards and three
others, who appeared to be High Commission officials, and a personal
aide to the president, came to ask why this reporter was ‘hanging
around’.
after, the serenity of the street was shattered (at about 3.30pm), when
five officials – two contracted private security guards and three
others, who appeared to be High Commission officials, and a personal
aide to the president, came to ask why this reporter was ‘hanging
around’.
“He
was threatened and told to go away to avoid police invitation. ‘You
have to go away with this car from here. You cannot take any photograph
here,’ a guard said.
was threatened and told to go away to avoid police invitation. ‘You
have to go away with this car from here. You cannot take any photograph
here,’ a guard said.
“But
this reporter declined because the United Kingdom law does not forbid
parking on a public road and taking photographs of private properties
from public view.
this reporter declined because the United Kingdom law does not forbid
parking on a public road and taking photographs of private properties
from public view.
“Four policemen later arrived at about 3.40 pm, using two vans and two motor bikes.
The
policemen were armed. The engagement between this reporter and the
policemen turned into a friendly banter – to the embarrassment of the
officials who received a lecture from the police that there was no
offence in taking photographs of private properties and also parking on a
public road where there is no double yellow line.
policemen were armed. The engagement between this reporter and the
policemen turned into a friendly banter – to the embarrassment of the
officials who received a lecture from the police that there was no
offence in taking photographs of private properties and also parking on a
public road where there is no double yellow line.
“But
the policemen told this reporter that high commissions get worried when
unfamiliar people come around to take photographs and loiter.
the policemen told this reporter that high commissions get worried when
unfamiliar people come around to take photographs and loiter.
“According
to them, the Saudi Embassy is particularly not inclined to people
coming around it. ‘We do get regular calls like that,’ one of the
policemen said.” NE
to them, the Saudi Embassy is particularly not inclined to people
coming around it. ‘We do get regular calls like that,’ one of the
policemen said.” NE
