Shiite: Iran recalls ambassador to Nigeria

By Eromosele Ebhomele. There is a growing enmity between Nigeria and the Islamic Republic of Iran as Vanguard is reporting that the latter has recalled its ambassador, Saheed Kozechi. Though no reason was given for the action, it is believed that the withdrawal of the ambassador is due to the way Nigeria is handling the Shiite crisis that rocked Kaduna state sometime ago. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s president A source was quoted as saying the withdrawal of Kozechi, was to avert litigations and
a seeming diplomatic row between the two countries over ambassador’s alleged unguarded utterances, which went as far as threatening Nigeria and the federal government.  A top diplomatic source was quoted as saying Kozechi was withdrawn to “to avoid litigation filed against the country and the ambassador in Nigeria and other international fora from ECOWAS Court to ICC. “After much pleading he (Kozechi) was able to get influential Nigerians to ensure he was still able to say his official farewell at the Presidential Villa because you realise that from the way he carried on about the Nigerians state he should not have been accorded such courtesy.” . He was accused of stoking the embers of religious extremism in Nigeria because of his alleged support for the Shiite group which was accused of attempting to assassinate the chief of army staff last year. It is also being speculated that the ambassador may have been indicted in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report on the Shiite crisis which would soon be released. There had been several revelations as a panel created to investigate the crisis continues to sit. The Kaduna state government is reported to have confirmed the existence of a mass grave. The director-general of Kaduna state Interfaith agency, Namadi Musa, was quoted as saying it took the government officials about six hours to complete the alleged mass burial of suspected member of the IMN, in a single grave