Nigeria's missions abroad stinks- Nigeria's Venezuela mission needs overhaul

In the last few months, it is coming to light the activities of Nigerian Ambassadors abroad; it is obvious that these Ambassadors are not representing the interest of Nigeria as a nation but the interest of those who masterminds their appointment in the first place. Gone is the era of merit appointment for the purpose of going to serve the interest of their motherland.

It is on record that two American banks placed an embargo on accounts belonging to Nigeria missions in New York and Washington D.C. Is this not embarrassing enough for the President to recall such Ambassadors and reprimand them for bringing dishonour and credit to Nigeria? 

 According to that on-going investigations, Bank of America and Wells Fargo freeze the Embassies accounts because they discovered that they are using the Embassy accounts to do financial transactions which are not satisfactory and Nigeria Permanent Secretary back in Abuja and his team is not offering any better explanation over a suspicious use of a total sum of $3.6 million wired through separate accounts through these two banks. 



The officials of the two banks suspects that the accounts belonging to the two missions might have been used as conduits for laundering and other unscrupulous activities. 



In Germany as I write the Nigerians in that country is demanding the removal and recall of their Ambassador, Ambassador Abdu Usman Abubakar for overseeing a corrupt mission and doing nothing about it. People are overcharged their E-passports and more annoyingly, the Ambassador is not assessable to; he has hardly attended any Nigerian organized function since arriving in Berlin. He has one excuse or the other not to attend; it was obvious is avoiding the Nigerian community leaders whom are against his style of leadership. During the President visit, Goodluck Jonathan, they hurriedly invited few Nigerians in their click to attend. Why should only 10 Nigerians attend a function where Nigerian President is? Last month, the Nigerians took a backed protect including Germans who accused the Nigeria Embassy of collecting money from German authorities to illegally deport persons who are not Nigerians with fake documents back to Nigeria. There was nobody to comment on this matter, I made a direct phone call to the Nigeria Embassy in Berlin to speak to the Ambassador, the woman on the line said I could not speak to the Ambassador and was willing to give me someone else. I insisted I was from the press and I want to speak to the Ambassador. She promised to call back; but she never did.

The latest in the news is Nigeria Ambassador to Venezuela, Ambassador Felix Oboro has severally been accused of drug trafficking, money laundering and false documentations to allow his family members stay in Venezuela; in his case, his matter his before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abuja. There is a direct involvement of the permanent Secretary of the ministry, also an Ambassador Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi who is accused of turning a blind eye to the allegations against Ambassador Oboro.

Has Jonathan not got enough problems in his hands to be encouraging more with controversial appointments like that of Oboro? Are these the only Nigerians we have to represent their states or there is more to it? I urgently request that the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs investigate these matters and for public confidence, make known their findings in the public.

In the case of Venezuela, I learnt that the informant from the mission who led to the investigations that discovered that Ambassador Oboro has been over spending money meant for the mission is now under fire from the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If this allegation is true then the Minister of Foreign Affairs should step into the matter and urgently address it as it would bring the entire government to disrepute internationally.

It is no hidden information of the atrocities of these missions abroad and if you search on the internet, you will bring several damaging stories so that the Goodluck Jonathan led government is silent about is a sign of contempt and encouragement to maintain the culture of impunity in Nigeria.

I pray something is done and soonest.
By Tom Keyamo, I am a concerned Nigerian and a political activist based in United Kingdom