The Permanent Secretary to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni, has been suspended.
His suspension is as a fall out of the recall of Nigeria’s envoy in South Africa.
The permanent secretary had earlier been queried on why he issued the “unauthorised recall” of the Nigerian Ambassador.
The unauthorised recall was described as embarrassing to the nation and it is perceived as a poor handling of the situation and causing diplomatic ridicule to the nation.
The South African government had on Monday criticised the Nigerian government for recalling its ambassador over the xenophobic attacks.
The South Africa authorities had described the recall as it unfortunate and regrettable, that a sister country like Nigeria would take such an action even when it was clear that the government of South Africa was taking steps to stop the attacks on sovereign nationals.
Though, the foreign ministry in a statement on Saturday had said it invited the Acting High Commissioner, Martin Cobham and Deputy High Commissioner, Uche Ajulu-Okeke, to return to Nigeria for consultations.
“The invitation is in connection with the on-going xenophobia in South Africa targeting foreigners, mainly African migrants,” the statement said.
But on Monday, the ministry denied recalling the envoy.
