A civil servant in Adamawa State, John Wickliffe, has died under distressing circumstances shortly after being demoted and evicted from his official residence, sparking public outrage and calls for investigation.
The 48-year-old, who had worked for the state government for 22 years, reportedly collapsed and died a few days after being reassigned from his position as a Grade Level 6 House Keeper to a Level 2 cleaner, a transfer that, according to family sources, came without any prior warning, disciplinary action, or justification.
According to reports, Wickliffe was also issued a sudden order to vacate his official residence, compounding the psychological and emotional strain on his family.
His widow, Mrs. Namanfa John, recounted the shock and devastation that preceded her husband’s death.
“He served this state loyally for 22 years without promotion or confirmation,” she said, overcome with emotion.
“Then they suddenly handed him a letter demoting him to a cleaner, no query, no explanation. He died a few days afterwards.”
Mrs. John said her husband collapsed and died on Friday, roughly a week after receiving the transfer letter and the eviction order to leave his government-provided accommodation within the Government Lodge in Gombi.
Though the transfer letter was dated February 25, 2025, she claimed they only received it last week.
She believes the cumulative pressure, humiliation, job uncertainty, and looming homelessness, triggered a fatal drop in his blood pressure.
She further identified Mukhtar, a Zonal Inspector acting on behalf of the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as the officer who delivered the eviction order.
The letter, she added, bore the signature of Lydia Michael, the Acting Director of Local Government, who also authorized the family’s immediate ejection from the premises.
“He was a diploma holder in Hotel and Catering,” she said.
“He was never confirmed, never promoted, just stagnated for 22 years. This sudden humiliation killed him.”
The grieving widow suspects that the demotion and transfer might have been a deliberate act to remove her husband from his position in favor of new appointees, potentially linked to job racketeering.
“There is a very strong possibility that money changed hands. They sacrificed my husband for someone else,” she alleged.
“Let the governor look into this. My husband deserves justice, in death, if not in life.”
Mrs. John referenced the recent recruitment approval by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who greenlit the employment of 4,000 new civil servants, as a potential motive behind the demotion.
She expressed concern that the existing staff were being displaced to create vacancies.
When contacted, Lydia Michael defended the ministry’s actions, saying Wickliffe’s reassignment followed proper civil service procedures.
She explained that the deceased was categorized as “daily-rated staff”, a classification that offers no assurance of job security or role permanency.
“His assignment was in line with his employment category,” she told SaharaReporters. “The transfer was a management decision taken by the Ministry.”
Despite this explanation, Wickliffe’s widow maintains that the action was unjust and that her husband was a victim of a broken and possibly corrupt system.
“Let the governor look into this. My husband deserves justice, in death, if not in life,” she pleaded.
