President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the suspension of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni.
This was contained in a letter dated April 28, 2015 and signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi.
According to the letter, the suspension is with immediate effect.
The letter said Sheni’s suspension is connected with his invitation to the Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to South Africa and the Consul General of Nigeria in Pretoria to visit the ministry for consultation in the aftermath of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Kifasi, in the letter, said the invitation from Sheni was without authorisation, and further directed Ambassador Bulus Lolo to take over from Sheni, while he is directed to stay away from duty until further notice.
“The President has directed your immediate suspension from duty as a result of your invitation to the Ag. High Commissioner of Nigeria to South Africa and the Consul General of Nigeria in Pretoria to visit the headquarters for consultation in the aftermath of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa without authorisation.
“Your action has brought great embarrassment to the country and impacted negativity on the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and South Africa. You are to hand over your duties to Ambassador Bulus Lolo and stay away from duty until further notice,” the letter read in part.
A top presidency source told State House correspondents yesterday that Sheni took a wrong step by not getting clearance from the president before inviting the Charge D’Affairs for consultation.
It was also learnt that acting on the directive of the President, who was said to be embarrassed by the controversy, Kifasi issued a query to Sheni to explain his role in the matter within 24 hours.
The source explained that if not for civil service rule, Sheni would have been dismissed.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, had on Monday denied reports that the Nigerian envoy in South Africa had been recalled over the xenophobic attack on Nigerians.
Abati said: “Nigeria has not recalled its envoy in South Africa. The Charge d’Affaires has been called for routine consultation.
“Nigeria has no High Commissioner in South Africa for now. The recall of an ambassador is a serious issue. Nigeria has not done so.
“It is not true that Nigeria has recalled its envoy in South Africa on account of recent xenophobic attacks in that country.
“There is a mix up and misinformation on the matter. The truth is that Nigeria has not recalled his envoy from South Africa.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bashir Wali, told members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday that the Federal Government has decided not to recall Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa because the situation in the Southern African country does not warrant such a stern action.
The minister explained that in the diplomatic world, the withdrawal of a country’s envoy from another country is such a serious action that must be applied as a last option.
