BEVERLY HILLS, September 21, (THEWILL) – France has denied the allegation that the financial headquarters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is in its country saying it is not aware of the presence of the group.
THEWILL recalls that Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, had on Wednesday, alleged that the group had been receiving financial assistance from the European nation.
“Let me tell you, the financial headquarters is in France, we know, but you see, can you as a government stop sending money to your parents? You have to block the sources of finance, that is what I said recently,” he had said.
But in a statement on Thursday signed by Claude Abily, a political counsellor of the embassy, France expressed shock over the minister’s allegations saying it was ready to examine any information which supports Mohammed’s allegation.
“The embassy of France was surprised by the statement made yesterday by the minister of information and culture indicating that the financial headquarters of IPOB is in France,” read the statement
“We don’t have any knowledge of a particular presence of IPOB in France and the Nigerian authorities never got in touch with the embassy on this point.
“We stand ready to examine any information which could support this statement. Furthermore, we would like to reiterate that France actively cooperates with Nigeria in the field of security and that we strongly support the unity of the country.”
