President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday summoned his Chief of Staff (COS), Abba Kyari, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, after their clash at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

It is understood that the cause of the heated argument between the duo, which occurred shortly before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, is not unconnected to the leaked memo, which Oyo-Ita sent to Kyari on the controversial reinstatement and posting of the embattled former chairman of the Pension Reforms Commission, Abdulrasheed Maina.

While Oyo-Ita, it was gathered, had accused Kyari of being the brains behind the leakage.



A source at the meeting said Kyari also accused Oyo-Ita of leaking the memo, which she wrote to him on the reinstatement of Mr Abdulrasheed Maina into the Civil Service.

The Punch reports that the heated argument occurred in the presence of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun; service chiefs and ministers.

A Presidency source, who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity on Wednesday, said the President was embarrassed when he was briefed about the altercation between Kyari and Oyo-Ita.

The source said even the presence of the Vice President did not deter the two officials from the clash.

The source said, “The President was embarrassed when he leant about the altercation between the two officials. He, therefore, asked the two officials to see him after the FEC meeting. It was a gory sight, seeing the two officials almost fighting at the Council Chambers.

“Efforts made by the VP to calm the two officials were rebuffed by the two officials. It was apparent that none of them had faith in each other.”