By Nuel Suji, Abuja.
President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the suspension of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni, over the recall of the Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa.
The suspension ordered followed a query by the Head of Service of the federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi.
A highly placed government official told News Investigators that the Permanent Secretary has been placed on suspension while investigations are on to determine his role in the recall of Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa without due authorization.
Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, had earlier dismissed as untrue, media reports that Nigerian Charge De Affairs was recalled by government over the xenophobic attacks in that country.
The South African government had also reacted to the recall, describing it as unfortunate while it vowed to normalize relations with the in-coming Buhari Administration.
President Jonathan was said to have been “embarrassed by the development and has asked that the perm sec. be queried,” our source said.
It is the second time since the appointment of Sheni as the permanent secretary, foreign affairs that the Nigerian government would be engaged in diplomatic gaffe.
The first time being the diplomatic row between Nigeria and Morocco over a purported telephone conversation between Jonathan and King of Morocco, which the ministry claimed took place only to turn out to be false.
