A group of activist lawyers known as the Public Interest Lawyer League (PILL), has petitioned the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, to rein in the Executive Secretary, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Jim Obazee, accused of "highhandedness, intimidation and sexual harassment of a civil servant."

According to PILL, the alleged victim, Abimbola Yakubu, has come under intense sexual harassment from Mr. Obazee and after he realised that a complaint of his alleged untoward conduct has been made to the minister. The group said he resorted to using his official position as a tool of intimidation.

"Since the release of our petition to the media, Mr Jim Osayande Obazee has conveyed two Management Committee Meetings of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. And at the Management Committee meeting held today 31st July, 2013, Mr Obazee directed that a formal disciplinary hearing be instituted by Senior Managers to try Mrs Yakubu on a yet-to-be ascertained charges, offences or misdemeanours," said the President of PILL, Abdul Mahmud.

Mr. Mahmud asked the minister to institute a "formal but thorough ministerial investigation as well as to take "disciplinary measures be exercised where appropriate."

He also urged the minister to protect the rights of Mrs. Yakubu.

Mr Mahmud said his group frowns at the practice where public servants use state institutions as pleasure-seeking outlets and their official positions as weapons against other people.

"State institutions are governed by laws and rules. Mr Obazee shouldn't be allowed to get away with his whims and caprices. The allegations of official high-handedness, intimidation and sexual harassment made by Mrs Yakubu are grave and serious; and we call on Mr Obazee to either own up or deny them," he said.