UN Probes Alleged Gambia-Bound Arms Shipment Seized in Nigeria

The 13 shipping containers of weapons impounded in Nigeria on Oct 25, allegedly bound for The Gambia from Iran is now a United Nations matter, Daily News reveals. 
News reports from Nigeria say United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has set-up a panel of experts to dig into the matter.
The experts are drawn from Great Britain, Japan, United States, Russia, Germany, Nigeria, China and France, who is to serve as the coordinator of the panel of experts.

“The panel is a strong indication that the Iranian controversial shipment to Nigeria is no longer merely an issue between Nigeria and Iran. It is now a Security Council issue,” A UN official was quoted as saying.
And a Gambian online news agency, Jollofnews yesterday reported that United Nations (UN) delegation is scheduled to arrive in Nigeria, though it did not state when.
The UN team would also meet with Nigeria’s top government officials on the issue that has sent shock waves across the globe.
Four sets of UN sanctions have been slapped on Iran over its disputed nuclear programme including a ban on arms sales or supply directly or indirectly. Other nations are forbidden from obtaining weapons from Iran.
But 13 shipping containers disguised as ``building materials,” include assorted calibres of mortars and rocket launchers, as well as shells for a 23 mm anti-aircraft gun were seized at Nigeria’s Logos sea port.
An Iranian official was quoted as saying that the containers were heading to The Gambia, following which


once allies, the relations between the two countries
was severed following the arms catch

 The Gambia ended its smooth relations with Iran by issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to all Iranian representatives in the country to leave the country. The Gambia did not however explain the reason for its sudden move.
But an Iranian senior MP, Alaeddin Borujerdi, has accused Gambia of bowing to pressure from the United States, threatening that The Gambia will regret its decision.
Meanwhile Iran has earlier dismissed its connection with the weapons, accusing the international shipping company based in France - CMA CGM, but the shipping company said it had picked up the containers in which the weapons were hidden in the Southern Iranian Port of Bandar Abbas.
The shipment had a stop-over in Mumbai, India, before heading to Lagos.
Last Friday, Ajumogobia said Iranian officials had confirmed the consignment originated in their home country.
Also Iran, whose Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, said the arms shipment was a “misunderstanding” that had been settled, is being cricitised for failing to elaborate on the nature of the misunderstanding or how it was resolved. And his was said to be the highest-level Iranian comment so far on the case.
Meanwhile four suspects – three Nigerians and an Iranian – are being tried in Nigeria in connection to the case, but they denied the charges.