Some Presidency aides were refused access into Aso Villa on Saturday after returning from the burial of late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.
According to SaharaReporters those affected include State House Chief Protocol Officer, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure, Special Assistant to the President, Yusuf Sabiu, a nephew to the President, Musa Haro Daura, and Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the, Garba Shehu.
Others are National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, Director-General of National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Ahmad Rufai, and Personal Assistant on New Media to President Buhari, Bashir Ahmed, among others.
Kyari died on Friday from coronavirus related complications.
The burial at Gudu Cemetery was attended by a large crowd – most of whom failed to wear nose masks or hand gloves on them for protection against Coronavirus.
READ ALSO: Abba Kyari: Gudu Cemetery Decontaminated, Abandoned PPE Evacuated – FCTA
This development ran contrary to the social distancing rule stipulated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and exposed attendees including the Presidential aides to the risk of contracting the deadly disease.
The burial ceremony was aired on several television stations across Nigeria and the large gathering, against government’s order, was seen by all violating the rule.
“Security personnel at the Villa turned back the aides of President Muhammadu Buhari after attending the burial ceremony of Mallam Kyari and coming in contact with several persons against the rule of the NCDC.
“President Buhari is not happy that the aides decided to violate clear protocols and guidelines of the NCDC and he directed that they should keep off the Presidential Villa to undergo self-isolation,” a Presidency official told SaharaReporters on Saturday.