Minister of the Interior Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir has allegedly denied requests from ministry staff for an independent investigation of the ministry over a leaked memo regarding a Nigerian asylum seeker.
DV reports that several ministry employees approached the minister with the suggestion that an independent investigator be brought in to examine the ministry with regards to the case of Tony Omos, a Nigerian asylum seeker who, along with the expecting mother of his child, Evelyn Glory Joseph, had his reputation impugned by a memo which leaked to certain members of the press last November. The memo made allegations about Tony and Evelyn which later proved to be untrue.
The minister allegedly told the employees who requested the independent investigation that this was not going to happen. Ministry employees are reportedly unhappy with the minister and her assistants over the matter.
Last month, lawyers for both Tony and Evelyn filed charges against the ministry, including breach of confidentiality, abuse of public office and slander. The ministry insists it conducted its own investigation and found nothing wrong – despite the fact that government officials have refused to comment on whether or not, and how, such an investigation took place.
The State Prosecutor first requested all documentation on the matter about two months ago, and has most recently requested more information from the ministry. Whether or not the prosecutor will then call for a police investigation remains to be seen.
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