Minister Denounces Reports Of Switzerland’s Ambassador’s Gay Partner In Nigeria

SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, (THEWILL) – The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has denounced reports in the media (Not THEWILL) which alleged that the federal government has launched an investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the coming of Switzerland’s Ambassador to Nigeria with his gay partner.

In a statement signed personally by the minister made available to THEWILL, Onyeama declared that the Ministry has no knowledge of the matter.

“The Government has learned with shock and dismay of a defamatory article in a Nigerian newspaper against the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Nigeria,” he said.

“I wish to state categorically that the Government has no knowledge whatsoever of any of the matters discussed in the article and could therefore not have authorized anyone to speak on its behalf in respect of them.

“With regard to the defamatory article, the Government has ordered an investigation and appropriate measures will be taken for any wrongdoing.

“It is to be emphasized that Nigeria and Switzerland enjoy very cordial relations.”

The report alleged that Switzerland's Ambassador, Eric Mayooraz, who was posted to Nigeria last year to head the Swiss mission, arrived the country in the company of his gay partner, a Brazilian whose name was given simply as Mr. Carlos.

It added that the ministry commenced a probe on the matter as efforts to register Mayooraz as a member of the Association of Spouses of Heads of Mission (ASOHOM) in Nigeria have been generating controversy.

“When the embassy was asked to introduce the male partner of the ambassador to ASOHOM as a member, the association denied Carlos membership, saying it does not accept male partners as members of the association.”

The report quoted the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Akinremi Bolaji, as saying that “it had been brought to the notice of the ministry that an envoy had a male spouse in the country.

“We are aware of the development and have started investigation. It is either they have deceived us because we would never have allowed such a person to enter the country if we were aware before now.

“We have a law, which must be obeyed by all. If we find him culpable, he will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

Story by David Oputah