Jim Osayande Obazee’s continuing harassment of a hapless civil servant

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PRESS STATEMENT OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST LAWYERS LEAGUE (PILL)

Two days ago, we wrote a petition to the Honourable Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Segun Aganga. In the said petition, we drew the attention of the Honourable Minister to the official handedness, intimidation and sexual harassment of a hapless civil servant, Mrs Abimbola Patricia Yakubu by the Executive Secretary, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Mr Jim Osayande Obazee, and urged the Honourable Minister to institute a “formal but thorough ministerial investigation of our complaint of official high-handedness, intimidation and sexual harassment’’. 

And whilst we urged that disciplinary measures be exercised where appropriate, we also requested that the rights of Mrs Abimbola Patricia Yakubu be protected.

Since the release of our petition to the media, Mr Jim Osayande Obazee has conveyed two Management Committee Meetings of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. And at the Management Committee meeting held today 31^st July, 2013, Mr Obazee directed that a formal disciplinary hearing be instituted by Senior Managers to try Mrs Yakubu on a yet-to-be ascertained charges, offences or misdemeanours. 

Once again, we condemn the arrant display of power by a public servant who has turned an institution of state into pleasure-seeking outlet, who believes he is untouchable, a demi-god. State institutions are governed by laws and rules. Mr Obazee shouldn’t be allowed to get away with his whims and caprices. 

The allegations of official high-handedness, intimidation and sexual harassment made by Mrs Yakubu are grave and serious; and we call on Mr Obazee to either own up or deny them. Needless of Mr Obazee to victimise a woman who have found the courage to expose his dilettante excesses. 

But, we have a word for Mr Obazee: we shall expose him for who he is: a pleasure-seeking public servant.

Abdul Mahmud

President

31^st July 2013