Presidency orders investigation on sack of whistle-blower

Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said on Friday that Mr Ntia Thompson, sacked by the Ministry over whistle blowing, would be reinstated, if actually his appointment was wrongfully terminated.

Onyeama, who stated this in Abuja while fielding questions from newsmen on the issue, said that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had directed him to look into the matter.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Thompson, an assistant director with the Directorate for Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), was sacked for allegedly exposing a fraud in his office.

Thompson was said to have been sacked for allegedly raising an alarm that $229,000 and N800, 000 had been diverted by key officials in DTCA, an agency under Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Onyeama said he had a comprehensive report on that matter and steps would be taken to ensure that justice is done on all the issues that were raised.

“I want to tell Nigerians that whistle blower protection is what we subscribed to wholeheartedly and completely in the ministry and it is government’s position and directive.

“I personally assure you that throughout my tenure, I will do everything possible to protect whistle blower in the ministry.

“Because the agenda of the government is a clear one that will embrace whistle blower,” he said

He said that he was going to look at the report and keep the public informed about the outcome of his findings.

According to him, if there is a slightest possibility that there could have been any action that was taken as a result of the person being a whistle blower, damages would be paid

“I can give you a guarantee that damages would be paid and the person would be reinstated.

“And, measure would be taken on this; as far as this ministry is concern justice would be done,” he pledged. (NAN)