By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, has suspended the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, and his counterpart for Housing and Urban Development, Francis Ori.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor announced the suspension during the State Executive Council meeting held in Abakaliki, the state capital.
He said, “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.”
It was gathered that their suspension may be connected to the alleged theft of property belonging to the Ministry of Health by its officials and the reported underperformance of the Housing and Urban Development commissioner and his shoddy handling of the Amaeze Housing Scheme in the Ishielu Local Government Area of the state.
The governor had paid an unscheduled visit to the health ministry’s premises on Saturday night and met a scene where six officials were caught allegedly diverting government materials.
He, therefore, ordered their arrest and eventual prosecution.
