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Jonathan, security
chiefs meet
Jonathan, security
chiefs meet
President Goodluck Jonathan Monday met with service chiefs and
other members of the security council to consider a brewing diplomatic crisis
threw up by the arrest of some Lebanese businessmen and their accomplices for
alleged involvement in terrorism.
THISDAY checks revealed that the meeting was called against the backdrop of
moves by countries sympathetic to Hezbollah, for which the suspects were
accused of working for, to seek their extradition from Nigeria to prevent them
from going on trial in the country.
other members of the security council to consider a brewing diplomatic crisis
threw up by the arrest of some Lebanese businessmen and their accomplices for
alleged involvement in terrorism.
THISDAY checks revealed that the meeting was called against the backdrop of
moves by countries sympathetic to Hezbollah, for which the suspects were
accused of working for, to seek their extradition from Nigeria to prevent them
from going on trial in the country.
The State Security Service
(SSS) and the military had arrested in Kano, four Lebanese – Mustapha Fawaz,
Abdalah Tahini, Tala Ahmed Rouda and Khosai Nouridine – for illegal stockpiling
of sophisticated weapons in a house in Kano and their business premises in
Abuja. The suspects were accused of being part of a Hezbollah terrorist cell in
Nigeria working to attack American and Israeli targets in the country.
(SSS) and the military had arrested in Kano, four Lebanese – Mustapha Fawaz,
Abdalah Tahini, Tala Ahmed Rouda and Khosai Nouridine – for illegal stockpiling
of sophisticated weapons in a house in Kano and their business premises in
Abuja. The suspects were accused of being part of a Hezbollah terrorist cell in
Nigeria working to attack American and Israeli targets in the country.
The SSS was also said
to have discovered more arms cache in Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland
Amusement Park in Abuja, which belong to some of the suspects, and sought the
president’s permission to demolish the supermarket.
to have discovered more arms cache in Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland
Amusement Park in Abuja, which belong to some of the suspects, and sought the
president’s permission to demolish the supermarket.
However, the suspects
headed for the Federal High Court, seeking N50 billion in damages from the
federal government for their unlawful arrest and detention without trial.
headed for the Federal High Court, seeking N50 billion in damages from the
federal government for their unlawful arrest and detention without trial.
The court Monday
ordered the SSS, the Inspector General of Police (IG) and the Attorney-General
of the Federation (AGF) to produce Fawaz, the owner of the supermarket, and
others in custody in connection with the case.
ordered the SSS, the Inspector General of Police (IG) and the Attorney-General
of the Federation (AGF) to produce Fawaz, the owner of the supermarket, and
others in custody in connection with the case.
It was learnt that the
matter engaged the attention of the security council at an emergency meeting
held at the State House.
matter engaged the attention of the security council at an emergency meeting
held at the State House.
THISDAY learnt that
the meeting was convened to stave off a possible diplomatic row that could pit
Nigeria against backers of the Lebanon-based Hezbollah.
the meeting was convened to stave off a possible diplomatic row that could pit
Nigeria against backers of the Lebanon-based Hezbollah.
The security chiefs, comprising the service chiefs, the Director-General of the
National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the IG and the Director General of the SSS,
after the meeting declined to speak with State House reporters on their
deliberations.
But a security source
told THISDAY that the meeting was prompted by moves by Jordan, acting on behalf
of other Hezbollah allies, to, through the back channel, lobby the federal
government to extradite the suspected terrorists to Lebanon for trial.
told THISDAY that the meeting was prompted by moves by Jordan, acting on behalf
of other Hezbollah allies, to, through the back channel, lobby the federal
government to extradite the suspected terrorists to Lebanon for trial.
The source, who was
privy to the deliberations of the security chiefs, told THISDAY that Jonathan
sought their advice on the issue.
privy to the deliberations of the security chiefs, told THISDAY that Jonathan
sought their advice on the issue.
He explained that
Hezbollah, through its sponsors in Iran and Syria, persuaded the Lebanese
government to intervene in the matter by seeking the extradition of the
offenders.
Hezbollah, through its sponsors in Iran and Syria, persuaded the Lebanese
government to intervene in the matter by seeking the extradition of the
offenders.
This, he added, was
agreed upon but the Lebanese decided it would not act directly but solicited
the assistance of Jordan to lobby for the extradition of the suspects.
agreed upon but the Lebanese decided it would not act directly but solicited
the assistance of Jordan to lobby for the extradition of the suspects.
“The president wanted
to know what can be done to avoid a diplomatic row with the Middle-East
countries that are patrons of these Lebanese.
to know what can be done to avoid a diplomatic row with the Middle-East
countries that are patrons of these Lebanese.
“He also urged them to
exploit means of soft-landing in the crisis in such a way that it will not have
a boomerang effect on the efforts his administration is making to tackle the
regime of insecurity that has hitherto threatened peace in some states of the
North,” the source said.
exploit means of soft-landing in the crisis in such a way that it will not have
a boomerang effect on the efforts his administration is making to tackle the
regime of insecurity that has hitherto threatened peace in some states of the
North,” the source said.
“The Lebanese may have gone to court with the foreknowledge of
this back door diplomatic manoeuvre that is trying to get them off the hook.
So, now instead of getting scared that they will be prosecuted and possibly
jailed, the Lebanese are now trying to play games with the federal government.
this back door diplomatic manoeuvre that is trying to get them off the hook.
So, now instead of getting scared that they will be prosecuted and possibly
jailed, the Lebanese are now trying to play games with the federal government.
“If you notice, the presidency
couldn’t expressly grant permission to the SSS to proceed legally with the
demolition of Amigo,” the source explained.
couldn’t expressly grant permission to the SSS to proceed legally with the
demolition of Amigo,” the source explained.
Source: Thisday
