Boko Haram: FG Denies Hiring Davis As Negotiator

The Federal Government has denied hiring Australia's Stephen Davis as
a Boko Haram negotiator.

The Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, who
disclosed government's position on the issue in Abuja on Friday, said
the government has no plan of prosecuting any Nigerian for now
following the allegations made by the Australian.

Davis has insisted that former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu
Sheriff and former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika are
Boko Haram sponsors.

He also mentioned an unnamed senior official of the Central Bank of
Nigeria and an Egypt-based man as those funding the sect.

Davis, who refused to disclose the identity of the CBN official, said
his allegations were informed by discussions he had with several Boko
Haram field commanders.

But Omeri insisted that government has not hired anybody to negotiate
on its behalf with the Boko Haram.

"For now nobody has been hired by the government to negotiate on its
behalf with Boko Haram. Anytime the government decides to do so, it
will make it known to the public.

"The government is still investigating the allegations made by the
alleged negotiator. However, the government has no plan to question
anybody because of those allegations made by the Australian," he
stated.