Minakuro Aprioku, the former director of the Ministry of Urban and Regional Planning, has publicly criticized the conduct of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, asserting that he is powerless to dismiss him. Wike has unfairly singled him out for years, he said.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Aprioku expressed disappointment with Wike’s treatment of him, claiming that his commitment and contributions to the workplace have been overshadowed by personal issues.
Speaking in an interview with Symfoni TV, Aprioku emphasized his contributions to modernizing urban planning and representing Nigeria at the World Urban Forum, among other accomplishments within the ministry.
He says that despite his commitment and diligence, Wike punished him by using the collapse of a seven-story building as an excuse. He feels that this incident, in spite of his years of hard work in the civil service, was used as a justification to remove him from his position.
A panel was formed after the building collapsed to look into Aprioku’s involvement. But Aprioku claimed that the people who were supposed to question him were not qualified to perform an impartial review.
He was eventually exonerated of all charges by the Civil Service Commission, which concluded that he had done nothing wrong. Despite his reinstatement, Wike allegedly blocked his return and put him on indefinite suspension.
Due to this injustice, Aprioku challenged his suspension in court against the Rivers State Government. Following protracted legal disputes, he was able to reach an out-of-court settlement that resulted in the full payment of his rights.
He maintained that he was never formally fired from his position, supporting his allegation that Wike went beyond his authority to block his reinstatement. Aprioku is currently suing Wike directly in an effort to clear his name.
He said, “Nyesom Wike, with his wickedness and his vindictiveness to civil servants, and especially somebody like me, whom he had had over the years as a very diligent worker in the ministry.”
“He used the opportunity to suspend me indefinitely until they exonerated me in the court where we sued the government at the National Industrial Court, and the court exonerated me, and then we did what is called an out-of-court settlement with the government.”
“I was paid all my entitlements. I was never dismissed at any time. I was called back, and all my benefits were paid to me.”
“Never at any time did the Rivers State government dismiss me to date, and he (Wike) cannot dismiss me as a civil servant because he has no authority to do that.” “Everything will be settled in the court. We are going to court to prove all that he said. All that he said was lies, and everything was documented.”
