Lagos—Former Nigerian ambassador to Lebanon, Amb. Oluwole Idowu, has refuted reports linking him with the alleged issuance of Nigerian visa to a wanted Lebanese terrorist, Ahmed Al Assir.

Idowu in a statement he issued in Lagos yesterday, described the  reports as malicious and defamatory, stressing that such were deficient in facts and professionalism.

He said he could not have been involved in the issuance of any Nigerian visa in Beirut in August 2015 after he had completed his tour of duty in Lebanon on April 6, 2015 and retired “meritoriously” from service on August 14, 2015.

The former envoy said that while his lawyers were already taking up the issue with the concerned organisations, he considered these clarifications expedient because of the embarrassment which the publications had been causing him, his family, friends and associates.

Idowu pledged his loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari, his government and the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry to which, he said, he committed his entire work life as a diplomat and career ambassador.

He also urged the media to always respect the sanctity of their professional ethics by double-checking facts before going to press with issues bordering on citizens’ rights of fair hearing and national sensibilities.