Nigeria, Feb. 3 -- Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports claiming he held a private meeting with former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari at his residence in Abuja.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku clarified that he had only had a brief encounter with Mr Yari at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

According to the statement, Atiku, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was at the airport on Monday, 2 February, en route to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj.

"He was accompanied by associates and family members to the airport," the statement said.

Mr Ibe said while waiting at the departure lounge, the former Vice President reportedly...