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FASHANU & U.S. BUSINESSMAN TO DEBATE DEBT BUYBACK SCHEME IN PUBLIC
A public debate that would attract the key figures in the March 1988 to March 1993 Nigerian debt buyback scheme controversy is being planned in the U.S. by the Nigerian Democratic Movement (NDM). It has been tentatively scheduled for June 11, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm at Howard University. Leader of the NDM, Professor Bolaji Aluko said the forum would enable ex football star John Fashanu and his investigator/s to square up with U.S. businessman Robert Minton. Fashanu has accused Minton of financial impropriety in the deal but Minton has denied the allegations saying he is being persecuted by Scientology officials. ''If necessary, I will go to Nigeria myself and educate the Nigerian Government and press as to the reality of the entire buyback operation......... Until the Nigerian Government repudiates the lies of Scientology and Fashanu, I will release factual information as to the buyback operation''. Speaking last Saturday after The European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom honoured Minton with the "Alternate Charlemagne Award 2000" in Leipzig, Germany, (the birth place of the East German civil rights movement), for his activities on human rights and freedom of speech, Minton said: ''I have nothing to hide and I am prepared to address Fashanu's sponsored allegations in public anywhere. I hope the Nigerian people and media would attend this public forum so that the outcome of the debate would be well reported afterwards.'' In a telephone discussion with Nigeria Today Online last week, Fashanu who recently returned to London from Nigeria said he would take part in the public forum. ''This is a good idea and I shall take part in the debate, whether it takes place in London or Washington DC'' Fashanu said.
