Mr. Ntia U. Thompson, Assistant Director, Head of Servicom Unit, Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), an agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.
On April 25, 2016, Mr. Thompson reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a case of fraud totaling $229,000 and N800,000 perpetrated by a cartel led by Mr. Mohammed
Kachallah, Acting Director-General of DTCA. The funds were meant for the monitoring and evaluation of Nigerian Technical Cooperation Fund (NTCF) projects jointly managed by DTCA and African Development Bank (AfDB), as well as for the celebration of the tenth anniversary of NTCF.
Instead of using these funds as specified, Mr. Kachallah colluded with some staff and diverted the money for their personal use. When Mr. Thompson raised alarm in line with government’s determination to curtail widespread corruption in the public sector, he became a target for severe punishment, including threats and intimidation.
Amid the resulting emotional turmoil, he was charged with allegations of violation of the Oath of Secrecy, absence from work without approval, refusal to carry out lawful instructions and making false claims against government officials.
On December 19, 2016, the same month government announced the whistleblower policy as a demonstration of its commitment to the fight against corruption, Mr. Thompson was slammed with indefinite suspension from office through a letter signed by Sanda S. Isah, Head of Department of Administration of DTCA. On February 7, 2017, Khadija Abba Bukar Ibrahim, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, approved his compulsory retirement from service.
In response, Mr. Thompson dispatched a petition to the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
However, following sustained advocacy by civil society groups, notably the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), and the media, calling for his reinstatement, a letter emanated from the Ministry on April 5, 2017, stating that the offences for which Mr. Thompson was sacked were not punishable by retirement from service. In other words, the retirement was declared null and void, and of no effect whatsoever.
Mr. Thompson was reinstated on June 20, 2017, by Mr. Geoffrey Onyema, Minister of Foreign Affairs, via a letter which stated that the reinstatement took effect from February 23, 2017. But when he reported for duty, the victimization continued. Instead of resuming in his original office, he was redeployed to the library.
Observing that the harassment and humiliation would increase rather than stop, he sought and got approval for transfer to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning where he is now Deputy Director, Social Development.
Meanwhile, at the time of compiling this report, the backlog of salaries for seven months – the period for which Mr. Thompson was wrongfully retired – has yet to be paid.
