Olowokandi, the son of a Nigerian diplomat, began playing organized basketball two years ago.

Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi is a Nigerian diplomat.

Nigerian diplomats disseminated glossy brochures, filled with diagrams showing how a new federal system would unite the mostly Muslim north with the Christian and animist south.

"The military are a macho bunch," said the Nigerian diplomat.

A Nigerian diplomat said the group had hoped to persuade Mr. Taylor to honor a cease-fire that would allow the establishment of an interim government.

If you are talking about the son of a Nigerian diplomat living out a Horatio Algier hoop fantasy, yes.

Ambassador Mohammed Lawal Rafindadi (1934-2007) was a Nigerian diplomat and security chief from Katsina state.

Embarrassed Nigerian diplomats simply decline to discuss the case, a reflection of the fear aroused by secret- police thugs seemingly answerable to no laws.

"The Americans miscalculated how important this issue is to us," a senior Nigerian diplomat said.

Bukar Shaib was a Nigerian diplomat, who served as the Nigerian Ambassador to Italy from 1979.