Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has withdrawn vehicles from the two commissioners suspended over alleged gross misconduct and dereliction of duties.
The affected officials were directed to return all government property, including vehicles, to the secretary to the state government by the close of work on Monday, November 25, 2024.
The officials suspended include Dr. Moses Ekuma, health commissioner (indefinitely suspended); Francis Ori, commissioner for housing and urban development (suspended for three months); permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health, executive secretary of the Ebonyi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and executive secretary of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency.
The suspensions were announced during a state executive council meeting held on Monday in Abakaliki and chaired by Nwifuru.
The suspension of Dr. Ekuma is reportedly linked to the alleged theft of government property. During an unscheduled visit to the Ministry of Health on Saturday night, Nwifuru allegedly caught six individuals diverting government assets. This led to their arrest and subsequent prosecution.
Ori was suspended due to his handling of the Amaeze housing scheme in Ishielu Local Government Area, which the governor deemed unsatisfactory. Additionally, Ori had previously been warned to expedite critical projects or face arrest.
A statement from the commissioner for information and state orientation highlighted the disciplinary measures: “Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials and matters related thereto, the Chairman of Council directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and three months suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Health respectively.
“Also to proceed on a three-month suspension are the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Executive Secretaries of the State Primarily Healthcare Development Agency and that of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency.”
To ensure continuity, the special assistant to the governor on primary health has been assigned oversight responsibilities for the Ministry of Health in the interim.
