March 13, 2017
The Head of Service of the Federation
Office of the Head of Service,
Federal Secretariat Complex,
Abuja
Dear Madam,
A CALL FOR RE-INSTATEMENT OF A WHISTLE-BLOWER, MR. NTIA THOMPSON AND SUSPENSION OF MR. MOHAMMED KACHALLAH AND OTHER STAFF OF THE DIRECTORATE OF TECHNICAL COOPERATION IN AFRICA (DTCA) BEING INVESTIGATED BY EFCC FOR FINANCIAL FRAUD
The Africa Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), a civil society organization dedicated to building support for the whistle-blower policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria, respectfully wishes to appeal for the re-instatement of Mr. Ntia Thompson, an Assistant Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation (DTCA) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who was compulsorily retired from service for exposing financial fraud in the Directorate.
AFRICMIL also demands the immediate suspension of Mr. Mohammed Kachallah, Acting Director General of DTCA, and others who were implicated in the scandal exposed by Mr. Thompson and are currently facing investigation by the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On April 25, 2016, Mr. Thompson reported to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) a case of fraud totaling $229,000 (Two hundred and twenty-nine thousand dollars) and N800,000 (Eight hundred thousand naira) perpetrated by a cartel led by Mr. Kachallah. The money was meant for the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of projects executed across Africa funded from the Nigeria Technical Cooperation Fund (NTCF), as well as for ceremonies marking the first ten years of the Trust Fund.
However, instead of using these funds as specified, Mr. Kachallah colluded with some other staff and diverted the money for personal benefit. When Mr. Thompson raised alarm in patriotic adherence to the whistle-blower policy designed mainly to curb corruption in the polity, he became a target for mindless persecution. He was placed on suspension on December 19, 2016, and then on February 7, 2017, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Khadija Abba Bukar Ibrahim, approved his compulsory retirement from service.
On March 8, 2017, AFRICMIL reacted to Mr. Thompson’s ill-advised retirement with a press release strongly condemning the Ministry’s action. In that release, we also noted that the greatest obstacle to the successful implementation of the whistle-blower policy and anti-corruption war of the current administration are top public servants. We implored you to use your good offices to countermand the forces of evil by not only nullifying the sacking of Mr. Thompson but also reinstating him to office. After all, his only crime is that where others have chosen to ignore official misconduct, he chose to blow the whistle so as to contribute to accountability in the public sector which our country sorely needs at this moment.
By this petition, therefore, AFRICMIL wishes to re-state its position that the whistleblower is a victim of persecution by Mr. Kachalla and other conspirators who are already being investigated by the EFCC. Although a prima facie case has been established against them based on the evidence, the suspects have remained in office contrary to Public Service Rule Chapter 3 Rules 03046 which provides that officers under investigation should immediately proceed on suspension. We urge you to ensure compliance of this rule by directing all those being investigated by EFCC to go on suspension to allow for a smooth investigation of the fraud, just as the whistle-blower was placed on suspension when the matter was undergoing police internal/police investigation.
We are also using this medium to urge you to stand firm against all the forces intent on using your office to scuttle the effective implementation of the whistle-blower policy through a sustained victimization of whistle-blowers in public service. This is the first time any government in the history of Nigeria will call for the active participation of citizens in the fight against corruption through a deliberate policy (whistle-blowing). We reiterate that a whistle-blower deserves commendation and protection, not victimization and threat to life. May it never be said that the Office of the Head of Service was a collaborative agent in the sustained effort to discourage whistle-blowing through a systematic victimization of potential whistle-blowers.
We look forward to a mutually rewarding relationship with your office.
Please accept the assurances of our highest regard and deep appreciation.
Yours sincerely,
Chido Onumah
Coordinator, African Centre for media & Information Literacy
