Ojo Maduekwe, Executive Council Delegation To Saudi Arabia Still In Abuja

San Francisco Feb 22, (THEWILL) – THEWILL has confirmed that the Federal Government of Nigeria delegation to Saudi Arabia to ascertain the true state of health of Nigerian ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua is still in Abuja. The team was scheduled to have departed on a presidential aircraft to the Arab state.

In a conference call to THEWILL at 11 a.m. WAT, an assistant to Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe said the team did not make the trip on Sunday night as planned adding that they would leave tonight. He said the Minister was in a meeting and would speak to us to explain the reason for rescheduling the trip when we call again.

Unconfirmed reports however say the Saudi Arabian aviation authority refused to grant the presidential aircraft clearance to land in that country.

The team has Secretary to the Government of the Federation Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Minister of Health Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, Foreign Affairs Minister Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Minister of Petroleum Alhaji Rilwan Lukman, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Adekotunbo Kayode (SAN) and Agriculture Minister Dr. Abba Ruma.