The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Center), a non-governmental and non-partisan human rights and development organisation, has called on the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, to wade into an alleged dismissal of one Mrs. Maryam Danna Muhammad, a former General Manager (Auditing and Compliance) at the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

Muhammad worked as a staff of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) for 24 years.

HEDA, which had earlier written to the Presidency on the issue, said in its fresh petition forwarded to Mustapha and signed by HEDA’s Manager, Whistleblower Protection Programme, Mr. ’Sina Odugbemi, that the SGF should urgently intervene and redress the injustice.

The Centre alleged that the unlawful dismissal of Mrs. Muhammadu and the extended defilement of order for her reinstatement, was the handiwork of the President’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Abba Kyari.

The petition reads. “The main trust of this letter is the unlawful dismissal of Mrs. Maryam Danna Mohammed and the refusal by Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari, to carry out a presidential directive for the reinstatement of Mrs. Mohammed.

“Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Center), a non-governmental and non-partisan human rights and development organisation established to provide leadership in advancing human rights and environmental protection in public policy and programs, had observed with shock, the unlawful dismissal of Mrs. Muhammad of Niger-Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) and the entire drama surrounding it.

“Instructively, we observe that given the several complications involved in the whole saga, the ignoble action of your predecessor can not be over-emphasised. The intervention of your office is therefore urgently needed.”

The petition explained that, “According to reports in the media, Mrs. Maryam Danna Muhammed who worked for 24 years with the defunct NDPHC conducted a company-wide staff audit which indicted 3 senior staff of the organisation namely; Mr. Louis Edozie (Executive Director Technical services), Mr. Anthony U. Muoneke (Executive Director Finance and Administration) and the General Manager (contract management) which resulted in resignation of the concerned individuals.

“Following the resignation of the afore-mentioned individuals in which Mr. Louis Edozie is a known associate of Mr. Abba Kyari, your all powerful Chief of Staff, whose daughter works under Mr. Louis it was gathered that Mrs. Muhammed received a letter on 10 June, 2016 from Mr. Babachir David Lawal, disgraceful suspended former Secretary to Government of the Federation, stating that she had been relieved of her duties with immediate effect which did not give any reasons for her sack or mention her offences. It simply claimed the disengagement was authorised by the President.

“It was also gathered that eleven days after receiving this letter, a dissatisfied Mrs. Muhammed wrote to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, raising issues on circumstances surrounding her dismissal, especially when she was neither invited nor indicted by any committee set up to investigate any wrongdoing on her part.

“Frustrated by an endless wait for a response to her letter from the office of the vice president, Mrs. Muhammed again wrote a comprehensive letter to your office which led to a letter from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. AbubakarMallam (SAN) claiming that Mrs. Muhammed’s reinstatement has been ordered by Mr. President. It was also learnt that the said Attorney General’s letter was addressed to Mr. Kyari to convey the President’s decision for Mrs. Muhammed’s reinstatement.”

HEDA said it sent a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, demanding the reinstatement of Mrs. Mohammed in accordance with the Attorney General’s letter but stated that having said all these, the fact remain that Mrs. Muhammed had still not been reinstated and the said presidential directive yet to be complied with by appropriate government officials.

HEDA said it has some posers which it feels should be answered: “Why was Mrs. Mohammed sacked in the first instance? On whose directive was Mrs. Muhammed sacked? Was Mrs. Mohammed ever indicted of any wrongdoing before the termination of appointment? Could Mrs. Muhammed’s dismissal be as a result of stepping on powerful toes as a consequence for her audit report and indictment of the afore-mentioned individuals? Why was the letter under the directive of the President to Mr. Kyari to have her reinstated not acted upon?”

It noted that, “Sir, for a leadership that is premised on integrity, rule of law, accountability and most of all a genuine fight against corruption, justice must not only be done, but seen to have been at all times, without let or hindrances, in accordance with the highest level of public accountability, morality and transparency on which the high opinion held by the general public of your administration is premised.

“This is why HEDA is calling on your office to institute an enquiry into this case to ensure that justice is done. It is only your timely intervention to redress the injustice in this case that would stop HEDA from taking legal actions within the period of 14 days upon the delivery of this letter.”

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