Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir
yesterday fled the venue of the ongoing conference of the Special Summit of AU
Heads of State and Government tagged “Abuja+12 Special Summit”.
yesterday fled the venue of the ongoing conference of the Special Summit of AU
Heads of State and Government tagged “Abuja+12 Special Summit”.
A source who pleaded anonymity told
LEADERSHIP that Al-Bashir was afraid that foreign powers might take the
opportunity of his presence at the venue to effect his arrest, and he quickly
left half-way into the programme.
LEADERSHIP that Al-Bashir was afraid that foreign powers might take the
opportunity of his presence at the venue to effect his arrest, and he quickly
left half-way into the programme.
A source at the Sudanese embassy
confirmed to LEADERSHIP that the Sudanese strong man left the country yesterday
evening.
confirmed to LEADERSHIP that the Sudanese strong man left the country yesterday
evening.
Another source added that, during
the summit, he declined reporters’ attempt to interview him and zoomed off
about 2pm.
the summit, he declined reporters’ attempt to interview him and zoomed off
about 2pm.
Commenting on the traffic congestion
at the Abuja Airport yesterday, spokesperson for FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu,
told LEADERSHIP that the arrival of the august visitors to Nigeria might have
played a large part.
at the Abuja Airport yesterday, spokesperson for FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu,
told LEADERSHIP that the arrival of the august visitors to Nigeria might have
played a large part.
Another source said that a movement
involving the president of Kenya also contributed. The source said that the
tight security at the airport yesterday was not unconnected with an attempt to
scrutinise those coming and leaving the airport, just as efforts were
intensified to ensure that Sudanese president Al-Bashir did not beat security
and leave the country.
involving the president of Kenya also contributed. The source said that the
tight security at the airport yesterday was not unconnected with an attempt to
scrutinise those coming and leaving the airport, just as efforts were
intensified to ensure that Sudanese president Al-Bashir did not beat security
and leave the country.
According to the source, following
an alleged tip-off of his impending arrest by the Nigerian government, the
Sudanese strong man had to quickly leave half-way into the programme to avoid
arrest.
an alleged tip-off of his impending arrest by the Nigerian government, the
Sudanese strong man had to quickly leave half-way into the programme to avoid
arrest.
Judges at the International Criminal
Court had ordered the arrest of the Sudanese president for
atrocities committed in Darfur.
Court had ordered the arrest of the Sudanese president for
atrocities committed in Darfur.
LEADERSHIP checks revealed that
Al-Bashir was also absent at a dinner organised for the visiting AU Heads of
State by President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday.
Al-Bashir was also absent at a dinner organised for the visiting AU Heads of
State by President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday.
Source: Leadership
