The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has demanded the full and unedited airing of his recent interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, saying selective editing could distort Nigeria’s image and fuel “misleading narratives and allegations of religious persecution.”

In a post shared on X on Wednesday, Tuggar said he appeared on Piers Morgan’s flagship programme to offer a factual and balanced response to claims about religious freedoms in Nigeria.

According to the minister, his submissions during the interview were supported by verifiable data, even if they did not align with certain preconceived opinions.

He insisted that transparency required the broadcast of the entire exchange “exactly as recorded.”

“I appeared on @piersmorgan’s flagship programme, @PiersUncensored, where I presented a factual and contextual perspective on the misleading narratives and allegations of religious persecution in Nigeria.

“My explanations, supported by verifiable data, may not have conformed to certain preconceived views.

“However, for the sake of integrity and transparency, it is essential that the full interview be aired exactly as recorded, without edits or selective omissions. Nigeria’s truth must not be distorted to fit external biases,” he wrote.

As of press time, the complete version of the interview had not been released on Piers Morgan Uncensored’s official platforms.

Tuggar, who recently met with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, in Berlin, reaffirmed that it was “impossible” for the Nigerian government to persecute any citizen on religious grounds.

He said Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion and upholds the rule of law, making any state-backed discrimination “unthinkable.”

Concerns over alleged religious persecution in Nigeria resurfaced earlier this year after the United States Congress debated proposals to categorise the country as a “country of particular concern” and impose sanctions.

In April, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a report dismissing claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria as a dangerous and misleading narrative.

The report asserted that the government remains committed to secularism, interfaith dialogue, and the protection of religious freedoms.

“Rather than perpetuating a narrative that reinforces divisions and fuels further violence, analysts need to adopt a more nuanced and balanced understanding that recognises Nigeria’s ethno-religious dynamics and the many efforts underway to promote peace, tolerance, and coexistence,” the report stated.

Despite these clarifications, on October 31, US President Donald Trump re-designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” accusing the government of failing to curb attacks against Christians.

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Former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN, GCON) is billed to chair the 10th House of Justice Summit and Orange Ball Banquet slated for Friday, November 28, 2025, at the Epitome Events Centre, Barnawa, Kaduna.

The annual summit, themed “From Camps to Justice and Communities,” is designed to set an agenda for ending the over two-decade-long insurgency-induced insecurity by ensuring that the government prioritises justice for victims and the resettlement of displaced persons and communities across Nigeria.

The event will also feature the Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Prof. Dakas C.J. Dakas (SAN), as the keynote speaker.

Other dignitaries expected at the event include the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd); the Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, Sen. Sunday Marshall Katung; and the Second Secretary of the British High Commission in Nigeria, Mr. David Snelling.

Speaking ahead of the event during a press conference on Thursday in Kaduna, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the House of Justice, Gloria Ballason (Esq.), said the summit’s theme reflects the urgent need for Nigeria to move beyond humanitarian relief towards long-term justice and community restoration.

She said, “This milestone event is particularly significant because it comes at a time when concerns are rising about foreign intervention and sovereignty in resolving Nigeria’s insecurity. Accepting the factual narratives of the various forms of insurgency and prioritising justice and the resettlement of displaced victims are necessary steps toward finding real and lasting solutions.”

Ballason noted that the perennial violent conflicts, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions, have displaced millions of Nigerians, leaving many communities in ruins and survivors in prolonged uncertainty.

She added, “Beyond feeding camps and building shelters, there is a moral and constitutional imperative to restore the dignity of victims through justice. We must ask: who is enforcing justice for those whose lands have become battlegrounds, whose homes were razed, and whose families are still missing? That’s the conversation this year’s summit seeks to ignite. The time for the ruins to be rebuilt and for justice to be served is now.”

She disclosed that the summit would bring together policymakers, legal scholars, defence and humanitarian experts to examine existing legal and institutional gaps and propose actionable frameworks for victim compensation, transitional justice, and community reintegration.

Ballason further revealed that the event will feature a panel session involving representatives from the National Human Rights Commission, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, development agencies, and international partners.

A statement from the House of Justice also indicated that the Orange Ball Banquet, which traditionally crowns the summit, will foster collaboration among individuals advancing human rights, social justice, and civic engagement across Africa.

She said, “At a time when our nation is grappling with security challenges and displacement, initiatives like this remind us that justice is not abstract — it is about people, accountability, and rebuilding hope.”

“The participation of Prof. Osinbajo and other dignitaries underscores the growing recognition of justice-centred approaches to peacebuilding in Nigeria’s policy landscape. During his tenure as Vice President, Osinbajo was known for his advocacy on the rule of law, judicial reform, and human rights, particularly through the Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative (PCNI).”

The House of Justice, founded in 2010, has consistently served as a civic hub promoting access to justice, legal literacy, and human rights advocacy. Over the years, its annual summits have drawn top jurists, lawmakers, activists, and international partners who deliberate on critical issues shaping Nigeria’s democratic and social development.

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denied reports claiming that he gifted a brand-new Toyota SUV to Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, the naval officer involved in a recent altercation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

In a statement issued via his X handle on Thursday, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, described the report, which has been circulating widely on social media, as completely false and without any factual basis.

Ibe, therefore, urged the public to disregard the fabricated story.

“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria (1999–2007), did not gift Lt. Ahmed Yerima — or any other individual — a brand new Toyota SUV, contrary to the false reports currently circulating on social media.

“The story is entirely fabricated and should be completely disregarded by the public,” he said.

The viral claim, which emerged on Facebook on Wednesday, alleged that Atiku rewarded the naval officer following his reported confrontation with Wike over an alleged land-grabbing incident in Abuja.

The clash occurred on Tuesday when Wike confronted a naval officer identified as Lt. Yerima during an inspection at a disputed plot of land in the Gaduwa District of the FCT.

A video of the incident, which circulated online, showed a heated exchange between the minister and the officer, who maintained that he was protecting naval property.

The incident has since generated widespread reactions, with several public figures, including a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), and other politicians, calling for restraint and respect for institutional authority.

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