Lai Mohammed Denies Threatening Israel over Kanu

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, wednesday in Abuja denied the statement credited to him that he gave Israel an ultimatum to release Nnamdi Kanu or be prepared to receive missile from Nigeria.

Mohammed who disclosed this while answering questions from journalists in the State House after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, said he was in London when the video which showed that Kanu was in Israel was unveiled.

According to him, whereas he was not in a position to issue any statement over the matter in far away London, fake news merchant quickly concocted a statement and credited it to him.

He said at the appropriate time, relevant authorities would make pronouncements on Kanu, adding that the re-appearance of the leader of Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) had vindicated the Nigerian Army which he said was accused of threatening Kanu, a situation that led to his disappearance.

He said, “I was in London when I heard the story about Nnamdi Kanu surfacing in Israel. I was not in a position to make any statement. But before I knew it, within a few hours, I saw my picture with a story saying that I had actually given Israel ultimatum to return Nnamdi Kanu otherwise, we will send them missiles.

“I just laughed. It speaks to what we are talking about – fake news – because it is probably the biggest threat in the run-up to the elections. Having said that, I have nothing more to add to the issue of Nnamdi Kanu. At the appropriate time, the various authorities will make a statement about the issue of Kanu.

“But this has proven that all along when Kanu disappeared and the mob was asking the Nigerian Army to account for the whereabouts of Kanu, I kept saying that ‘Kanu knows where he is.’ He was not in the custody of the federal government. We have been vindicated today. Any other statement will be made in due course.”