Justice Delayed but Not Denied: The Ordeal and Vindication of Ambassador David Ademola Adejuwon

 By David Alani Ige (The Scribe) Public Affairs Commentator & Policy Analyst | Publisher, Ayekooto Media

The Appointment and the Obstruction

In June 2013, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan appointed Ambassador David Ademola Adejuwon strictly on merit as Nigeria’s new Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other Trade-Related International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland. Prior to this, Amb. Adejuwon served as the Director of Trade in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Despite the President’s directive for an immediate resumption of duty, Amb. Adejuwon faced unprecedented insubordination and sabotage. His predecessor, Amb. Yonov F. Agah, bluntly refused to vacate the office for eight months. When Amb. Agah finally left, he defied the Ministry’s explicit instructions (Ref No. TS 2054/II/79A) to hand over to Amb. Adejuwon. Instead, he unlawfully handed over the Nigeria Trade Office to a subordinate, Mr. Suleiman Adebayo Audu—a Grade Level 14 officer whose tenure had already expired. 

Shocking Discoveries in Geneva

When Amb. Adejuwon finally assumed duty on March 3, 2014, he was met with a disgraced and heavily indebted mission. Without any proper handover notes, he discovered severe institutional decay that brought international embarrassment to Nigeria:

Massive Debts: The Nigeria Trade Office was operating in a rented apartment owing 24 months of unpaid rent at over CHF 11,000 per month.

Staff Hardship: Landlords were threatening suicide due to 18 months of rent arrears for staff apartments, and local staff were owed 11 months of salary in direct contravention of Swiss law.

International Disgrace: Nigeria was named and shamed at the 2014 WTO General Council for failing to pay its outstanding subscription for three years.

Severed Utilities:Telephone lines and electricity had been cut off, and mandatory insurance policies were suspended due to unpaid service providers.

The Unlawful Stoppage of Allowances

The sabotage did not stop there. In September 2016, the same subordinate who had overstayed in Geneva, Mr. Suleiman Audu, maliciously and unlawfully stopped Amb. Adejuwon’s duly appropriated Foreign Service Allowance while he was still at his post. This was done without any written authorization, simply because Audu was the second signatory to the account. Audu also frustrated Amb. Adejuwon's Confidential Secretary, Mr. Sola Ogunleye, forcing him to leave Geneva in 2017.

The official residence of Ambassador Adejuwon in Geneva, Switzerland, which has remained locked with his personal properties trapped inside since the unlawful stoppage of his allowances.

Vindication by the National Industrial Court

Refusing to let this gross injustice stand, Amb. Adejuwon instituted a lawsuit against the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in October 2017 (Suit NO. NICN/ABJ/301/2017). After a full trial, on March 12, 2024, Her Ladyship, Hon. Justice O.A. Obaseki-Osaghae of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, delivered a definitive judgment in favor of Amb. Adejuwon.

Following the judgment, the Ministry's Legal Department officially wrote to Amb. Adejuwon on February 18, 2024, confirming that the Ministry was stepping down its appeal and taking necessary steps to source funds to liquidate the judgment debt amicably.

A Call for Presidential Intervention

Despite the court’s clear orders and the Ministry’s written commitments, full compliance has stalled. Amb. Adejuwon has since formally written to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. In his letters, he is seeking two immediate directives from the President:

1. Immediate Compliance: Compel the Honorable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to comply with the court orders without further delay.

2. High-Level Investigation: Constitute a high-level administrative panel to investigate the weighty allegations of corruption, insubordination, and sabotage committed by officials within the Ministry, ensuring accountability in line with the "Renewed Hope" mandate.

Ambassador Adejuwon’s story is a testament to the resilience of dedicated public servants who refuse to be bullied by a corrupt system. Justice has spoken; it is now time for the government to act.