Panic As Nigerian Perm Secretary Beats HoD To Coma
The Anambra State Government has vowed to take necessary action following an alleged altercation between Mrs. Chinwe Achugbu, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, and an unidentified female Head of Department (HOD) within the same ministry.
The incident, which reportedly occurred on Thursday, August 15, 2024, resulted in one of the individuals being hospitalized.
The altercation, which is said to have escalated into a physical fight, reportedly saw Achugbu attempting to strangle the HOD, leaving her in a coma.
The injured HOD was rushed to the Emergency Ward of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Amaku-Awka, where she was eventually resuscitated.
Eyewitnesses and sources within the ministry, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident and expressed concern over the growing trend of physical confrontations among senior staff members.
They also revealed that many subordinates are reluctant to report such incidents for fear of victimization.
When approached for comments, Permanent Secretary Achugbu declined to speak, citing her position and directing inquiries to the Head of Service.
The Head of Service, Theodora Igwegbe, acknowledged being aware of the incident through social media but stated that she had not yet received a formal complaint.
She assured that an investigation would be conducted once official reports are submitted, and appropriate actions would be taken based on the findings.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, was unavailable for comment as attempts to reach her went unanswered.
The incident has sparked concerns within the ministry, with many calling for immediate and transparent investigations to address the issue and prevent further occurrences.
The state government, through the relevant authorities, is expected to follow through on its commitment to ensuring that justice is served in accordance with the Public Service Rules.
