Mrs. Achugbu, recently appointed as a permanent secretary by Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, was reportedly involved in a physical confrontation on Thursday, August 15.
The altercation, which occurred during an argument over an undisclosed issue, escalated to the point where one of the women allegedly strangled the other into unconsciousness.
While the exact cause of the fight remains unclear, sources indicated that it required the intervention of bystanders within the ministry to restore order.
The injured HOD was reportedly rushed to the Emergency Ward of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku-Awka, where she was resuscitated.
A reliable source within the ministry, who requested anonymity, confirmed the incident to journalists on Friday, stating that the permanent secretary inflicted serious injuries on the HOD, leading to her hospitalization.
The source also noted that physical confrontations among top staff members have become a recurring issue in the ministry, with subordinates hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of retaliation.
Another ministry employee, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident but mentioned that no official complaints have been lodged due to the high-ranking positions of those involved.
The source suggested that some senior officials might be attempting to cover up the incident.
When approached for comment at her office in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka, Mrs. Achugbu declined to speak, stating that she was not authorized to comment and referred the reporter to the Head of Service.
The Head of Service, Theodora Igwegbe, acknowledged awareness of the reported fight via social media but noted that she had not yet received an official briefing on the matter. She assured that appropriate actions would be taken following an investigation.
“I saw the report on social media on Friday, August 23, 2024. I have not received a formal report against the Permanent Secretary in question as provided by Section 7, Chapter 10 of the Public Service Rules (2021).
That notwithstanding, I have started asking questions to ascertain what happened while I await a formal report, which should be the beginning of a process. Thank you,” she stated.
Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, for comment were unsuccessful as calls and messages to her phone went unanswered.
Section 7 of the Public Service Rules (2021) outlines sanctions for misconduct and failure to perform duties as required, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high standards of conduct and performance among public servants.
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