Posted by From Onwuka Nzeshi in Abuja, 02.07.2007 on
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Joy Ogwu, has been petitioned over acts of nepotism and alleged corruption leveled against two senior diplomats of the Nigerian embassy in the Netherlands.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Joy Ogwu, has been petitioned over acts of nepotism and alleged corruption leveled against two senior diplomats of the Nigerian embassy in the Netherlands.
The diplomats allegedly connived between themselves to terminate the employment of two Nigerians serving at the Embassy because they were uncomfortable with their ethnic identity and state of origin.
One of their victims, Mrs. Nwose, who until her sack was a Social Secretary at the Embassy, hails from, Delta State.
In a petition written by Mr. Marcus Nwose, spouse to the victim, he said working at the Nigerian Embassy in the Hague was a national pride for his wife until the duo of Davis N.O and Hamidu L.M. arrived a few months ago and launched what could be described as an ethnic war to clear the place of employees of Delta State origin and replace them with people from other parts of the country. "In 2003, my wife gained employment in the Nigeria Embassy as a social secretary ( local staff) directly attached to the Ambassador, she served meritoriously with the fullest of her knowledge and conscience, she loves her job as a professional secretary.
As you must have been acquainted with the posting that occured within the diplomatic missions, Mr. Davis .N.O. and Hamidu.L.M were posted down to the Hague.
Late 2006, the Ambassador was recalled back to Abuja, within this same period Mr. Davis angrily walked into her (my wife) office and called her: 'Tina, I am in charge now and there is likelihood you will lose your job. I wonder why people from Delta State should be everywhere'. "On the 12 December 2006, my wife proceeded on her annual leave and resumed 16 January this year, within this space of time the entire plan to terminate her appointment was perfected in line with the threat Mr. Davis had earlier issued. "After a week of her resumption, they started holding meetings on down sizing the staff strength of the embassy. As the temperature of the debate increased, one of the junior officers requested that a call for credentials should be made for fairness and equity," the letter read. Nwose alleged that this suggestion was ignored thereby paving way for injustice as three persons with questionable credentials were soon recruited and placed on salary scales that were far above persons of better qualification and job experience, while letters of termination were served to the two embassy staff from Delta state. The petitioner urged the Minister and the Federal Government to intervene in the matter to ensure that justice was done, adding that with the conduct of the two staff, especially their seeming non-respect to human dignity and the rule of law it was doubtful if they could be true representatives of Nigeria in a foreign land.