The Federal Government has demanded an apology from the British government over an allegation by a member of its parliament Tom Tugendhat that Nigeria’s former military ruler Yakubu Gowon looted “half of the Central Bank” before moving to London.
Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ferdinand Nwonye in a statement on Friday also demanded that the statement be retracted.
During a debate on the recent #EndSARS protest in Nigeria, Tugendhat who is the chairman of UK parliament foreign affairs committee on Monday alleged without proof that Gowon looted public treasury.
Mr Nwonye said the ministry, upon learning of the claim, “immediately sought an apology and retraction of the unsubstantiated allegation from the British Government.”
He said the Federal Government also consulted with head of Africa Department of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Charlotte Pierre who “expressed strong reservations on the comment of the Parliamentarian.”
The statement quoted Pierre as saying “the said comment of the MP does not reflect the views of Her Majesty’s Government and the British Government has no mechanism for controlling the actions and speeches of members of the Parliament.”
Gowon has also dismissed the allegation.
