Journalist Threatened With Arrest for Demanding to Interview President Buhari

Security staff at Abuja House, London, on Sunday called police to arrest Tunde Oyedoyin, London correspondent of Guardian, who visited the place and demanded to see President Muhammadu Buhari and possibly interview him.

Abuja House has been Buhari’s residence since he began his vacation and series of tests.

Surprisingly, according to the correspondent, when he told a member of staff he had come to see the president, his response was: “As far as I’m concerned, he’s not here.”

The journalist said at 2:50pm, a black Mercedes jeep arrived, and the occupant sitting by the driver rolled down the glass and asked him, “Why are you here?”

The reporter said after identifying himself and stating his mission, he was told: “He’s not here, you can’t see anybody here.”

Oyedoyin said when he arrived just a few minutes past 1pm, and asked to speak to the high commissioner, he was directed to Nigerian House at Northumberland Avenue.

He said 20 minutes later, when a man and a teenage-looking girl wearing glasses pressed the buzzer, a security officer opened the gate for the duo.

Oyedoyin said he inquired: “Is that the daughter of the president?”, and the staff replied: “I don’t know.”

The reporter said when he pressed the buzzer about five minutes later, the security man sounded angry and threatened to call the police.

“You should realise this is a private place and I will call the police,” he quoted the security guard as saying.

Oyedoyin said when he made it clear that he was standing outside a public place, the guard said:” l won’t speak to you again.”

He said the security operative made good his threat of inviting the police.

According to Oyedoyin, two police officers were called in, and when they arrived, they took his name and date of birth, and subsequently made a check on the national database.

Politicians have visited the president in London, but he has not communicated with Nigerians.