By Onomiguren Agbamu
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has suspended the commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources while Messrs Bennett Ezon-Abode Agamah, Permanent Secretary; Engr. Oki Preowei Yintareke, Assistant Director, Agricultural Engineering and Mr. Gabriel Idiatacheko, Chief Accountant are to proceed on compulsory leave.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, and made available to journalists in Asaba.
The statement reads “Arising from the outcome of the review of the implementation of the Greenhouse project by the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Governor of Delta State Rt. Hon Elder Sheriff F.O. Oborevwori has constituted a seven-man committee chaired by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu to investigate the claims and perceived infractions related to the management of the scheme by the Ministry.
The statement added “that consequent upon the interim report of the committee and in other to have unimpeded access to information during the period of the investigations, the Governor, Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff F. O Oborevwori has approved the immediate suspension of Hon. Omoun Perekebena Perez, Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, while Messrs Bennett Ezon-Abode Agamah, Permanent Secretary; Engr. Oki Preowei Yintareke, Assistant Director, Agricultural Engineering and Mr. Gabriel Idiatacheko, Chief Accountant are to proceed on compulsory leave until further notice in line with Civil Service extant rules.
The statement further added that the government’s action is in no way a presumption of guilt but rather a necessary measure to uphold the sanctity of the investigative processes already instituted, which is to ensure that the investigation is conducted without any potential for undue influence or bias.
Recall that the Commissioner for Agricultural and Natural Resources with the permanent secretary of the ministry are facing alleged transaction of N280 million meet for the ministry’s Agricultural programme to personal account as reported by Sahara Reporter
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