[size=14pt]Ajumogobia said: "We are still in high-level consultations with the Iranian Government over the alleged complicity of one of their nationals in the arms importation. --- A security source said: The Iranian government is seeking a soft-landing for its citizen who was behind the importation.[/size]

Do they understand that this may not be the first time, and therefore imperative to quickly unravel any previous events and prevent others? 
Or that these arms may be meant for someone within the country, and not the impossible round trip to Gaza being speculated?
Does anybody think that Iran would allow anyone to hide in any embassy in Tehran for this kind of offence? If you backpack near the Iranian border you are in deep trouble.
What if this hiding out allows enough time for other devilish plans on Nigeria to be completed?
We need to get those bastards out of the embassy, yesterday.

President GEJ must show leadership here.
Recall the Nigerian Ambassador and send the Iranian Ambassador packing in 24 hours if these people are not released to Nigeria's security agencies.

Sob Sob   Sob   It doesn't look like this country wants to be a real nation afterall!

APPREHENSION seems to have heightened over the abandoning of 13 containers allegedly loaded with arms at the Apapa Port, a week after the discovery of the deadly cargoes
Instead of moving the containers into a military cantonment for security reasons, as earlier gathered, they were still lying at the AP Moller Terminal at Apapa Port
Over 50 joint security operatives from Customs, Army, State Security Service and Mobile Police (MOPOL), have been keeping vigil at the site since last Saturday.
Security experts, who spoke with The Guardian on conditions of anonymity raised concerns that it was not proper for such sophisticated weapons to be left in such an open place, under whatever circumstance, for as long as a week. 
They attributed their displeasure to the possibility of an attack on the cargo, a prediction that if it comes true, could lead to disaster. 
Besides, the experts also argued that the high degree of heat from the sun and or any other unforeseen factors could trigger accidental explosion near the port.     
It was learnt that there was an attempt on Wednesday by the government to relocate the cargo to either Abuja or Ibadan, pending the conclusion of investigation into the importation.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28296:anxiety-over-non-relocation-of-arms-containers&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

More than a week after the illegal importation of arms in 13 containers, the Iranian Embassy in Nigeria has denied the Federal Government access to one of the suspects hiding in the embassy.

The development has stalled investigation into the illegal importation of the arms and ammunition.

But the government said it has initiated high-level consultations to avoid a diplomatic row over the issue.

According to findings, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote the embassy on Monday for details on the illegal importation of the arms and the need to release the Iranian suspect holed up in the embassy in Abuja.

But the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), who responded to The Nation’s enquiries last night, said the government was yet to have access to the suspect, who is considered crucial to the investigation of the illegal importation.

He, however, added that high-level consultations were still going on between Nigeria and Iran .

Ajumogobia said: "We are still in high-level consultations with the Iranian Government over the alleged complicity of one of their nationals in the arms importation.

"They have assured us of their full cooperation in the ongoing investigation into the matter by security agencies.

"They are, however, yet to give access to their embassy for the purpose of obtaining a statement from the person identified by investigators as connected with the importation."

Another top government source, however, added: ‘The Federal Government is being careful in handling the matter to avoid any diplomatic impasse.

"We are exploring all diplomatic means to resolve the issue. A diplomatic conflict with Iran could trigger religious crises.

"Based on information from security agencies, we have written a formal letter to the Iranian Ambassador on Monday to obtain comprehensive details on the containers; how the ship was loaded; its record of movement and how it skipped security screening at the port.

"We also wanted to know whether the Iranian Government has carried out preliminary investigations in Tehran over the shipment.

"We thought it would be better for the two nations to exchange information since the fight against terrorism is a global thing."

The SSS had last Tuesday intercepted the 13 containers at the APM Terminal in Apapa Port , Lagos .

The Bill of Lading indicated that the ship brought in some building materials.

But upon thorough examinations, some arms and ammunition, including rockets, mortals, guns and other small arms, were discovered.

Attempts to get to the roots of the importation by Nigerian security agencies had been stalled by the Iranian Embassy.

A security source said: "The Iranian government is seeking a soft-landing for its citizen who was behind the importation.

"I think they wanted some understanding for covert investigation."

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/18123.html

this case is one that should be handled with a lot of caution and might require consultation with security intelligence from other developed nations.


For phones, computers, ipods & other electronics, Check out Sales-Inland with the link below;

Since when do we start playing by the rules? Iran have little or no significant interest in Nigeria, apart from the fact that it is perceived as a muslim country.

If I am the president, I will order our security forces to storm the place bring out the suspected arms dealer. Period. But I guess the powerful people behind the scenes will not let this happen.

i wonder if the man involved would still be hiding at the consulate if it had been America or Israel in our shoes

I suspect that some powerful criminal Nigerians are involved.

If that culprit is not released, Nigeria should break diplomatic ties with Iran and declare Iran an axis of evil to Nigeria. Period.

How are we sure that only iranians are invovled.lets watch and c wat happen with thier so called on ending investigation.

Maybe Mr Osama is planning to relocate to Naija.

When they keep doing small things to your country and you don't deal with it promptly, like a responsible nation, then they will plan bigger things:

1. al qaeda offered to help Nigerian muslims after the boko haram incident. Although a number of Nigeria muslim leaders rejected the idea, our government could not be bodered to react.
2. then we had the AbdulMuttalab incident - yet our so-called leaders ignored anti-terrorism laws that were designed to combat terrorism.
3. Iran now makes bold to bring sophisticated arms near our borders, and our reaction is "high level consultation".

The story behind this incident is more than meets the eye. I don't believe these arms were destined for Gaza. Iran has a history of training radical mullahs and equiping them. While Iran may be mainly Shite and al qaeda mainly Sunni, their targets and objectives often coincide, and in fact almost the same around the world. Are they attempting to get these arms to boko haram, the jos fighters or some other elements that may be preparing for war within Nigeria?

This is a very dangerous situation, but as with most things our government is taking it in its stride. The Abuja bomb is disappearing into the maze of corrupt politics, and this incident may disappear the same way.

At the least, these arms should be evacuated to a maximum security Nigerian military installation where neither Iran nor any of its owners will ever lay eyes on it ever again. Those people in the embassy also need to come out right now.

I just don't understand a country that likes to portray itself as a regional power and major player on the world scene, but does not project itself as anything remotely close!

jpworld:

Maybe Mr Osama is planning to relocate to Naija.

It is good to face Iran diplomatically, seek advice/support of some developed world leaders, and be ready for a real war before launching any attack.

There is no suggestion here for war with anybody.

What is needed is to show our seriousness. Diplomacy never yields fruit when the other side has nothing to loose from stone-walling. The Iranian embassy may be sacrosant (although I doubt Iran would allow any Nigerian to hide out in our embassy in Tehran for the same incident), we can show them we mean business by cordoning off the entire area - so they are unable to conduct any type of business until they release those two to us - we simply need to know what they know right away. Delay may be deadly.

Didn't Nigeria make South Africa act on Okah promptly, with threats we were told? There are very urgent questions that these people need to answer. The Nigerian government needs to assure citizens that Nigeria is not a ball to be kicked around by any riff-raff nation of this world!

lightwall:

It is good to face Iran diplomatically, seek advice/support of some developed world leaders, and be ready for a real war before launching any attack.

@koruji:u v said it all we hv a highly unresponsive govt in nigeria year in year out and in no time the case wld ve been swept under d carpet and nothing will be ever heard about it just like d Okah came case is gradually disappearing from the news.

I weep for Nigeria

The Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria has been insulting Nigeria since this issue started

first he said arms come into Nigeria all the time and when they are siezed all soughts of routes or destinations are mentioned. He also took a dig at the fact that in the past arms siezed in Nigeria have gone missing after the arms were claimed to have been meant for other African countries so according to him the mentioning of Iran on this occassion as the source of the weapons follows a tradition of unreliable info from Nigerian Government.

Its really unfortunate and Nigeria clearly is not a serious Nation

I knew it. The palms of our officials are always hitching for bribes. Highly placed individuals are probably interfering with national security issues. Not a serious nation at all.

That the Iranian Ambassador could say these things and is not on his way to Tehran show us how bad things are in Nigeria.

It would be interesting to see how President GEJ handles this issue. In another country, the way the President handles this kind of thing would define his presidency not to talk of prospects for reelection.

mikeansy:

I weep for Nigeria

The Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria has been insulting Nigeria since this issue started

first he said arms come into Nigeria all the time and when they are siezed all soughts of routes or destinations are mentioned. He also took a dig at the fact that in the past arms siezed in Nigeria have gone missing after the arms were claimed to have been meant for other African countries so according to him the mentioning of Iran on this occassion as the source of the weapons follows a tradition of unreliable info from Nigerian Government.

Its really unfortunate and Nigeria clearly is not a serious Nation

There are ways of strong-arming the Iranians into submission.

Deploy troops to the embassy to block all and sundry from entering or exiting the embassy.

Send out an evacuation order to all Nigerians doing business in Iran and also to Iranians doing business in Nigeria.

Order the closure of our embassy in Theran and also order the removal of the Iranian ambassador from Nigeria within 48hours.

Grant safe passage to only embassy workers and all others should be subjected to rigourous screening before they are allowed to leave.

This kind of act should be considered an act of war by the Iranian.

Hussein Abdullahi, Iran’s ambassador to Nigeria, said there was no clear evidence linking his country to the shipment.

The “different speculation doesn’t have any clear sources. At this time, we can’t judge on any of them,” Abdullahi told The Associated Press on Saturday. “Sometimes they blame India, sometimes they blame Iran, sometimes they say the arms are going to Nigeria, sometimes they say they are going to Gambia. Now, they claim they are going to the Gaza Strip.

“There is different speculation, but there is no clear evidence for (any) of them.”

http://www.republicreport.com/arms-shipments-nigeria-said-iran-wont-discuss-arms-seizure-reports/

At this stage given our history there is no need to over react

But a Foreign Ambassador in our country should not be speaking about the country like this and the least I expect the Nigerian Government to do is to at least summon the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria to explain the comments above.

They should also explain why they seem not to be co-operating with SSS investigation in the matter.

I believe our response should be measured, if they don't respond satisfactorily then we can take it to the next level.

Each day this story gets weirder.

Now they are suggesting that the arms were headed for Gambia. This reminds one of how two previously seized arms were also said to be headed for Gambia.

Gambia is neither big nor rich or at war with anybody to be constantly importing these arms:"The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, bordered to the north, east, and south by Senegal, with a small coast on the Atlantic Ocean in the west. [size=14pt]Total GDP in 2009 was only $739 million[/size]".

Someone within Nigeria is using this scheme either to accumulate arms or to route arms to buyers.

More riddles trail seized Apapa arms import
| Print | E-mail
Sunday, 07 November 2010

AS the nation awaits the resolution of the riddles surrounding the illegal importation of a large cache of arms including rockets through Apapa Ports, Lagos,  last July, more damming and frightening details continue to ooze out from security sources about the arms import.

The investigating teams, for example, are still baffled about the mystery surrounding the loading port of the deadly cargoes. Whereas there had been various attempts to link the 13 containers of arms to Iran, Hamas fighters in Gaza, etc, insiders insisted that investigations so far have confirmed that before the cargo arrived Apapa Ports, it had gone through trans-shipment in Greece, Spain and India. There is no certainty yet about the original loading sea port.

Although,  the 13 containers (alongside 70 others) consigned to one Mr. Ali Abbas Usman Jega of 6B Nouakchott Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja, arrived Apapa Ports on July 15, 2010 on board the vessel, MV CMA CGM Everest through doctored manifest and without Form M, it was the unsuccessful attempt to convert the containers to  diplomatic cargo and trans ship or re-export same to State House, Gambia that raised the suspicion of the State Security Service  (SSS)  which raised a red flag to the Customs Area Comptroller, Apapa Ports.

Sources confirmed that when the  doctored manifest details were electronically imputed into the Customs Asycuda System, it showed that not only did the cargoes not have Form M, there was also no Risk Assessment Report (RAR), a clear violation of the cargo  clearance process in Nigeria. Although an alert concerning the cargoes was raised, neither the importer nor the agent came forth to make any declaration. And if there is no declaration (laying of claim), the Customs could only keep a watch on the containers pending the expiration of the 90 days permitted by law before being put on the un-cleared Cargo  List.

But suspicions were heightened when in August, a Customs licensed company, first attempted to re-export the containers to Banjul, The Gambia  - a request that was rejected because only a shipping company could make such application to the Customs. Then in September, a shipping company, submitted a purported manifest amendment to change the consignee to Kanilai Farms, State House, Banjul, The Gambia. This would have facilitated a seamless re-shipment as a diplomatic cargo, except that there was no formal notification from the Gambian High Commission.

Two, there was no Form CCI, a mandatory document for diplomatic shipment.

So far, the two export officers of the Customs Service, who may have been involved in the re-shipment efforts, have since been with the SSS for interrogation.

More worrisome to the investigators is the allegation that the Iranian suspect in the illegal arms saga has been domiciled in a notable first generation top rate hotel in Abuja for three months to the knowledge of the security agencies.

There is also the lamentation that had the ports service providers who got the multi-million naira contracts  to install fixed scanners at Nigerian ports since January 1, 2006 worked to contract terms, the Customs service would have been able to detect the content of the 13 cargoes, whether anyone made a claim to ownership or not since July, 2010.

The nation woke up on Tuesday October 26, 2010 to a frightening story of an illegal importation of 13 containers of arms through Apapa Ports since  July 15, 2010. Upon joint examination by the Customs and all the security agencies at the Ports on October 26, 2010, the containers were discovered to have concealed within marble slabs ammunition of various calibers including 7.65mm light ammunition with cartridges, 60mm, 80mm and 120mm mortar, rockets with firing pins and grenades.

The Iranian Embassy is foreign territory, we can do nothing about that, the best we can do is to cut diplomatic ties.

I will not be surprise if these arms were meant to be use to fight in jos by these TALIBAN and their supporters.

for those of u shouting war, do u honestly believe u guys will win a war against the Iranians? Remember its Iran, not Liberia or gambia

for those of u shouting war, do u honestly believe u guys will win a war against the Iranians? Remember its Iran, not Liberia or gambia

We are not talking about going to war with Iran, we are talking about severing diplomatic ties should Iran refuses to release the suspect for investigation.

belelikfin:

I will not be surprise if these arms were meant to be use to fight in jos by these TALIBAN and their supporters.

lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My bros, this is not a laughing matter o. You need to hear from the locals in Jos how the mallams fire gunshots from their houses any time there was crisis. This is not a time to undermine any line of thought. It is a possibility.

Lets cut off all ties with these fucking extremists B4 its too late, I somehow fear it is.