Abuja-based ex-Israeli minister arrested for allegedly spying for Iran

Gonen Segev, a former energy minister in Israel, has reportedly admitted contacts with Iran after being arrested in a suspected spying operation, local reports in Israel said.

Mr Segev lived in Nigeria on a self-imposed exile after completing jail sentence for drugs offenses in Israel in 2010. He worked as a medical official for Israeli diplomats and other Jewish expatriates around Abuja. He was arrested in Equatorial Guinea and was extradited to Israel where he has now been charged with spying for Iran, reports said.

It was not immediately clear if Nigeria played any role in his investigation and arrest. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defence Headquarters both declined comments about the development for the most part of Tuesday.