Nigeria on Friday threatened to report Iran to the UN Security Council if an illegal arms shipment sent from an Iranian port and discovered in Lagos violated sanctions over its nuclear program.
Nigeria’s foreign minister made the comments after meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, over the arms cache, which included rockets and grenades, and obtained access to an Iranian in connection with the probe.
“If Nigeria finds that at the conclusion of the investigation that there has been a breach of international law, a breach of UN sanctions, Nigeria is a member of the UN Security Council, we will do what is necessary,” Nigerian Minsiter of Foreign Affairs Odein Ajumogobia said.
Iran is currently under UN sanctions over its nuclear program.
Tehran has granted Nigerian authorities access to an Iranian who took refuge in its embassy in Abuja, Ajumogobia told journalists.
“One of the individuals connected to the shipment was an Iranian national who we understand from security reports took refuge in the Iranian embassy,” he said.
After the meeting, Mottaki “immediately directed that access be given to our security agencies to interview this individual.”
However, Ajumogobia said late on Friday that there had been “some reluctance to allow the individual to leave the embassy premises” to be interviewed.
After further discussions, arrangements were being made for the Iranian to be questioned at the offices of the Nigerian security services on Saturday, he said on Nigeria’s Channels television.
Asked whether there was any sign of Iranian government involvement in the arms shipment, he said further investigations were needed.
“I would hope that the interview tomorrow of this individual would throw more light on the circumstances and the involvement of the government of Iran, if any,” the minister said.
It is believed the shipment was arranged through an intermediary company. According to Ajumogobia, Iranian officials now admit the shipment came from Iran.
Ajumogobia also said a diplomat may be linked to the shipment. The diplomat enjoys immunity under international laws so Nigeria cannot at this stage question him.
“If the Iranians are willing to waive immunity, then we will pursue that,” he said.
Security agents last month -intercepted 13 containers discharged from the vessel CMA CGM Everest at the country’s busiest port of Apapa in Nigeria’s economic hub of Lagos.
Shipping firm CMA CGM said the containers had been loaded and sealed in Iran by an Iranian businessman who does not appear on an international list of prohibited traders.
France-based CMA CGM said the containers were loaded in Bandar Abbas, a port city of Iran, and discharged in Lagos in July.
However, some time last month the shipper sought to have the containers reloaded and sent to Gambia, a west African country wedged inside Senegal, the firm said.
Earlier this week, Nigeria’s intelligence agency said it had been monitoring the shipment, which was disguised as building material, before it arrived in the country.
It also said the shipment’s destination was Nigeria, and “any argument that the cargo came into the country by mistake is false.”
The intended recipient and the clearing agent have been arrested, the agency said.
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