The Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Demola Seriki, has debunked rumour making the rounds that he abandoned his official car in Spain and imported own car from Nigeria to Spain.
While discarding the story in its entirety, the former Minister of Defence also described as total falsehood the purported report that he was stopped by Spanish policemen who threatened to impound his vehicle for not having proper document.
Seriki disclosed that “we know those behind the false report”, and according to him, “the embassy has 25 staff as against the benchmark of 15 staff approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
Seriki said the bloated workforce has critically affected the budget of the embassy. He said, “Every diplomat before me employed an additional staff for the embassy before exiting. Most times, the people are their relatives or loyalists. Our staffing ceiling is supposed to be 15 but as we speak, our local staffers are 25. “I am restructuring hence these petitions and rumours. There is no way you can do reforms without oppositions.”
Seriki’s response is following media reports alleging that he was arrested by Spanish police for driving an unauthorized vehicle. According to the report, a source in the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry alleged that the Ambassador breached diplomatic protocols.
The Ambassador stated that the official diplomatic vehicle was bad and covered in dust hence his resort to his private vehicle.
He said, “the official car here is not in good condition, the Nigerian government allowed me to take my car to Spain. Nigeria doesn’t have a rep car. It is so sad especially for anybody who says it is against diplomatic protocol.
“My Range Rover number plate is 012, not 001 which is the official number plate against allegations that I removed number plates from the official vehicle and converted them to mine. Do you think that is possible in Spain? That is not possible. Moreover, I did proper driving tests. I also have a European Union driver’s licence.
“There are times I send my officers on missions and they take Uber. I met with the King of Spain last week. I went with my Range Rover. Do you expect me to have gone there with public transport?
“I should be commended for providing my own personal vehicle for official duties. I just authorized a vehicle to be bought and won’t be ready till June.
“I brought my car to give respect to my country. I am allowed to bring my car”.
He assured that regardless of the smear campaign against him by people who want bad status quo of bloated office to remain, he will not hesitate in doing everything that will make the country cut cost as well as putting in reforms that will improve image of the country in Spain.
