Jonathan Denies Meeting With Hezbollah Member In Aso Rock

Date Posted: 30/06/2013

Following allegations by three Lebanese suspects standing trial for terrorism and importing weapons into Nigeria that Goodluck Jonathan met a Hezbollah agent, Hussein Hajj, inside the Presidential Villa, the President on Thursday denied having such meeting.

Mustapha Fawaz, Talal Roda and Abdulla Tahini had told a Federal High Court in Abuja on June 21 that Jonathan didn’t only meet the Hezbollah member, they also shook hands.

They tendered pictures of the said meeting through their lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN).

Jonathan however said the suspects’ claim should be regarded as “senseless.”

Speaking on his behalf, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati said, there was no connection between the case and the suspects’ claims.

According to Abati, it is normal for the President to shake hands with people, inside or outside Villa, adding that people do not wear tags that identify them as terrorists.

“I really don’t see the connection between the case in court and somebody shaking hands with the President. In any case in court, there are certain facts that are admissible and there are certain facts that are inadmissible.

“Those issues that are inadmissible are issues that have no connection whatsoever with the case. A man is in court for acts related to terrorism and he is talking about a handshake. The fellow should be asked ‘what has that got to do with the case? How does that prove his innocence?’

“If he said that the President shook hands with somebody, he should say when, where, how, under what circumstances? He has an allegation he has to answer to and he is raising another allegation that has no connection with the case.”

Abati also described the allegation as an attempt by the suspects to confuse the court and divert it’s attention away from the matter before it, saying such should not be entertained by any court of law.

Reacting to terrorists’ claim, the Publicity Secretary of the Save Nigeria Group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said the suspects’ allegation had nothing to do with their case, however, he said there were lessons to be drawn from the situation.

Odumakin therefore appealed to Jonathan to reduce the rate at which he “frolics” with businessmen, advising him to the Presidency as a delicate seat.

“The lesson he (Jonathan) must take away is that the rate at which he’s frolicking with businessmen is too much. People of dubious character will want to take photographs with the President and he should know that his office is too powerful and that issues like this will always embarrass the Office of the President.