Nigeria petitions US over Embassy's invasion

Nigerian Embassy in Washington.

The Nigerian Embassy in Washington has protested to the U.S. Government over the violation of its premises by the Secret Service agents following fracas between two local workers.
The Acting Ambassador/Charge d’Affaires, Hakeem Balogun, said that a “protest note” had been transmitted to the U.S. Department of State.

Balogun condemned the violation of the diplomatic protocol over altercation by two Embassy drivers adding: “The embassy has as well transmitted a protest note to the U.S. Department of State.

“We have sent a protest note in respect of the entrance by the police into the embassy. It is against diplomatic protocols.

“They are not supposed to enter the embassy. The protest letter is in respect of the entrance of the police into the embassy,” Balogun said.

The Nigerian envoy also said that he “has since taken appropriate and timely, administrative and diplomatic steps to address the incident.

“These measures include the immediate and indefinite suspension of the two local staff members involved in the fracas.

“There is the establishment of a Committee to investigate and recommend appropriate disciplinary actions against the two locally-recruited staff members involved in the fracas.”

Balogun dismissed the publication by a Nigerian newspaper alleging that “the United States Police was called in to restore order in the Embassy as a result of ‘a physical fight’.

The ambassador also described as baseless, claims that the fracas took place “in the full glare of dozens of guests and visa applicants”.

“To buttress its report, the Newspaper attached a photograph claiming to be the ‘chaotic situation’ that erupted as a result of the fight,” he said.

According to him, however, the dispute between two of its drivers took place in the basement area of the Chancery where Embassy drivers are stationed.

“The physical encounter was, therefore, not in the full glare of the public as to have caused a chaotic situation.

“A cursory look and careful analysis of the picture attached by the Newspaper will reveal to anyone conversant with the Embassy’s premises that the picture used has no physical connection to the Embassy.

“This was clearly an effort at deception,” the ambassador said.