June 09, (THEWILL) — The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has exposed what it described as an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s diplomatic relations with Liberia, disowning a letter circulating on social media and other online platforms purportedly issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
The Ministry described the document as fake, unauthorised and inconsistent with official diplomatic communication procedures, warning that it was deliberately designed to mislead the public and create unnecessary tension between the two countries with longstanding cordial relations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the Ministry denied any connection to the purported correspondence allegedly sent to Liberia’s Foreign Minister concerning comments reportedly made by a Nigerian religious leader.
“The Ministry wishes to categorically state that the said letter is fake, unauthorised, and did not emanate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any official channel of the Federal Government of Nigeria”, the statement read.
According to the Ministry, an initial review of the document revealed several inconsistencies and procedural irregularities, which clearly indicated that it was not an authentic diplomatic communication.
The Ministry noted that official diplomatic correspondence is guided by clearly established protocols and channels that ensure accuracy, credibility and the preservation of international relations. It stated that the forged document failed to satisfy these requirements and should therefore be viewed as a deliberate fabrication intended to manipulate public opinion and disrupt relations between Nigeria and Liberia.
“The purported correspondence should be regarded as a fabrication intended to mislead the public and undermine relations between two friendly countries”, the Ministry said.
The Ministry, therefore, called on media organisations, civil society groups, stakeholders and members of the public to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of sensitive materials before dissemination.
It urged citizens to avoid forwarding or amplifying unverified documents capable of misleading the public and worsening the spread of false narratives.
“The public, media organisations and all relevant stakeholders are advised to disregard the fake letter and refrain from circulating unverified materials capable of spreading misinformation”, the statement added.
The Ministry further disclosed that relevant authorities had already been informed of the incident, while security agencies had commenced investigations to trace the origin of the forged document and identify those responsible.
Authorities are also expected to determine whether the circulation of the letter formed part of a coordinated effort to damage diplomatic relations or undermine public trust in government institutions.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to transparency, professionalism and responsible diplomatic engagement, the Ministry assured the government and people of Liberia of Nigeria’s continued friendship, mutual respect and goodwill.
The Ministry said the long-standing relationship between the two countries remains strong and is unaffected by attempts to sow friction through false narratives and fabricated communications.
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