Govt reacts as Permanent Secretary allegedly beats HoD, to coma
The Anambra State Government has on Sunday announced its intention to take decisive action in response to a violent altercation between Mrs. Chinwe Achugbu, the newly appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, and an unidentified female Head of Department within the same ministry.
The incident reportedly took place on Thursday, August 15, within the office premises, following a heated argument over an undisclosed issue. The confrontation escalated to the point where one individual allegedly strangled the other into unconsciousness.
While the exact cause of the altercation remains unclear, it is known that intervention from nearby individuals was required to separate the two parties and restore order to the ministry.
A source within the ministry, who chose to remain anonymous, informed journalists on Friday that the Permanent Secretary inflicted severe injuries on the Head of Department.
The injured party was swiftly transported to the Emergency Ward at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Amaku-Awka, where she was subsequently resuscitated.
The source also revealed that physical altercations among senior staff members in the ministry have become increasingly frequent, with subordinates hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of retaliation.
The state government has vowed to address these issues comprehensively and ensure that appropriate measures are taken.
The source said, “Yes, the incident happened. Everything in that story happened. I was there that day and everything happened before my face. The two of them fought over a yet-to-be-disclosed matter and the PS tried to strangle the HOD, as she held her neck for several minutes.
“It was a very chaotic moment. It took the intervention of other persons around before normalcy returned after the HOD was rushed to the hospital because she fell into a coma.”
Another employee within the ministry, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on the condition of anonymity, corroborated the incident.
They noted that the matter had not been formally reported due to the high status of those involved, suggesting that some senior officials were attempting to cover up the issue.
When approached at her office at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, Mrs. Chinwe Achugbu, the Permanent Secretary, declined to comment on the allegations.
She stated that, as a person under authority, she was not permitted to speak and directed the reporter to consult the Head of Service instead.
The Head of Service, Theodora Igwegbe, acknowledged being aware of the reported altercation through social media but confirmed she had not yet received an official briefing on the incident. She assured that appropriate action would be taken once a thorough investigation and assessment of the situation were completed.
“I saw the report on social media on Friday, August 23, 2024. I have not received a formal report against the Permanent Secretary in question as provided by Section 7, Chapter 10 of the Public Service Rules (2021).
“That notwithstanding, I have started asking questions to ascertain what happened while I await a formal report, which should be the beginning of a process. Thank you,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, was unavailable for comment regarding the incident, as both messages and calls to her phone went unanswered.
According to Section 7 of the Public Service Rules (2021), there are specific sanctions for misconduct and violations of worker conduct.
These guidelines outline penalties for failing to adhere to established practices and are designed to ensure that public servants uphold high standards of conduct and performance in their roles.
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President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing
President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing
President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after participating in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026).
Presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.
The president attended the summit alongside some members of his cabinet.
On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The agreement is aimed at deepening economic cooperation, boosting bilateral trade and investment, and enhancing technology transfer.
It will also expand collaboration in key sectors, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining and renewable energy.
In his address at the summit, Tinubu announced that Nigeria and the UAE would jointly host INVESTOPIA in Lagos in February.
The initiative is designed to attract global investors and accelerate sustainable investment inflows into Nigeria.
Tinubu also said Nigeria targets mobilising up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance.
He said the funds would support energy transition reforms and expand nationwide access to electricity. (NAN)
News
APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor
APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor
The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied receiving a letter from Gov. Dauda Lawal seeking to defect to the party.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were speculations across the state over Lawal’s move to defect to APC.
A statement issued in Gusau on Saturday by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, described the speculations as fabricated.
“The party came across a fabricated report purported to have emanated from one Tambarin Gusau claiming that Go Dauda Lawal has sent a letter to the party wanting to join the APC.
“The report is malicious, unfortunate, unfounded, mischievous and showed the unprofessional manner which some people can go in misleading others and causing chaos in a stable and a peaceful party like the APC.
“The APC has responsible channels where everything is done in a guided manner,” Idris said.
According to him, the party has not received any letter from Lawal as claimed through the imagination of the writer nor was the party aware of any recent moves by the governor to defect from the PDP to the APC.
“All members of the party and indeed the public especially in Zamfara should therefore disregard such report.,” Idris added.(NAN)
News
282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos
282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos
A Qatar Airways passenger plane on Friday made an emergency landing at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos after developing a technical fault mid-flight.
The aircraft, which had 248 passengers and 12 crew members on board, was forced to land abruptly after the malfunction was detected while it was operating within Nigerian airspace.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident in a statement released by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.
According to him, the agency was alerted to the situation through its 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines, prompting an immediate response from emergency officials.
He explained that upon receiving the distress call, the LASEMA Response Team (LRT) was swiftly deployed to the airport to assess the situation and provide necessary support.
“Upon arrival at the scene, the LASEMA Response Team confirmed that the aircraft was in distress,” the statement noted.
“The pilot executed a safe landing on the runway at Murtala Mohammed International Airport with LASEMA Response Team and other emergency responders standing by on extreme high alert on the runway.
“Collaborative efforts of the multi-agency responders were coordinated. After proper check by the pilot and the engineering crew, the aircraft was moved to the apron for detailed inspection and prompt repairs.”
“All passengers of the distressed airplane were evacuated safely; no injuries reported, no loss of lives,” the statement said.
Despite the technical issue and the emergency landing, the agency stated that there was the aircraft experienced no major damage.
“The aircraft has been secured on the apron. Recovery activities have been completed,” the statement added.
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