The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended two state commissioners: Dr. Moses Ekuma, the Commissioner for Health, and Francis Ori, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development.
The suspensions were announced on Monday during a State Executive Council meeting in Abakaliki, the state capital.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Jude Okpor, the state’s Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, confirmed the suspensions. According to Okpor, the action followed “cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duty” involving some government officials. He further stated that the Chairman of the Council had directed the indefinite suspension of Ori, the Commissioner for Housing, and a three-month suspension for Ekuma, the Health Commissioner.
Sources suggest that the suspensions may be linked to two key issues. First, there are allegations that officials from the Ministry of Health were involved in the theft of government property. The Governor himself reportedly visited the health ministry on Saturday night, where he discovered six officials in the act of diverting government materials. He ordered their immediate arrest and said they would face prosecution.
Second, Ori, the Housing Commissioner, is said to have come under scrutiny for his poor performance, particularly in relation to the Amaeze Housing Scheme in Ishielu Local Government Area. The underwhelming progress of the housing project has raised concerns about his handling of the ministry’s responsibilities.
This development underscores the Governor’s commitment to addressing corruption and ensuring accountability within his administration.
