IPOB members in a demonstration

The Embassy of France in Nigeria on Thursday strongly denied allegation by the Federal Government that it was the financial headquarters of secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Nigeria’s information minister, Lai Mohammed had alleged that the group had been receiving financial assistance from people living in France in a press conference at Aso Rock presidential villa on Wednesday.

“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,” the Minister had said.

“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,” Claude Abily, a political counselor of the French embassy said in a statement on Thursday.

While expressing shock over the claim of the Nigerian government, the Embassy said though it was not aware of presence of IPOB in France, the claims of the Minister will be investigated.

“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,” the Embassy concluded.