The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has indefinitely suspended the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Francis Ori, and imposed a three-month suspension on the Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma, following allegations of misconduct and dereliction of duty.
The suspensions were confirmed during a State Executive Council meeting held in Abakaliki on Monday. A statement from the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, released on Tuesday, cited “gross misconduct and dereliction of duties” by the affected officials as the reasons for their removal.
Although the statement did not provide specific details, sources suggest the suspensions are linked to recent controversies. Ekuma’s suspension is reportedly connected to the theft of government property by Health Ministry officials. Governor Nwifuru visited the Ministry’s premises on Saturday night and discovered six officials caught in the act of diverting government materials, leading to their arrest and the governor’s directive for prosecution.
Similarly, Francis Ori’s suspension is believed to stem from his poor performance in overseeing the Housing and Urban Development Ministry, particularly regarding the Amaeze Housing Scheme in the Ishielu Local Government Area. The scheme has been criticized for mismanagement under his leadership.
The suspensions come as part of Governor Nwifuru’s ongoing efforts to improve accountability and transparency within his administration.
