The minister of foreign affairs, Ghenga Ashiru, yesterday said the ministry was investigating the circumstances surrounding the sack of the Nigerian acting Chief Justice of The Gambia, Joseph Wowo, who was alleged to be soliciting bribe over a case.

Speaking with journalists after he briefed the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the activities of ministry in the last two years, the minister also reiterated that Nigeria would take appropriate measures to ensure that the rights of Nigerians were protected in view of the £3,000 bond introduced by the British government for Nigerians seeking to travel to the United Kingdom. He also disclosed that over $16 billion was repatriated to the country from Nigerians in diaspora.

He also reiterated that Nigeria would stand firm against gay rights even as he told the United States and United Kingdom to desist from trying to impose gay rights in the country since "our laws, tradition and customs are against it."

On the Nigerian-Gambian judge, the minister clarified that the country would not defend any Nigerian who broke laws of other countries but gave the assurance that the ministry would look into the case to ascertain whether any form of highhandedness was used against him.

"We believe in due process and rule of law. That is what we even do in Nigeria here in terms of the our judiciary where our chief justice is working round the clock to sanitise the judiciary. The case in The Gambia is being looked into and if there is any case of highhandedness or what ever, the Nigerian government will look into it and take necessary steps to ensure that the interest of the Nigeria is protected.

"One of our own principles is that we will stand up for our citizens rights anywhere in the world, especially where it is case of victimisation or injustice. But when a Nigerian willfully plans to commits crime, then he is on his own because, as government, we don't support criminality, indiscipline, or anybody going to break the laws of any country," the minister said.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has distanced itself from the disgraced Justice Wowo.

NBA president Okey Wali (SAN) admitted that although Wowo was called to the bar in Nigeria, he (Wowo) cannot be said to be a member of the Nigerian Bar having sojourned to Gambia to practise law and consequently joining the Gambian Bench.