By Nelson Utip
The Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Omoun Perekebena Perez has been suspended by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for involvement in fraudulent activities.
The suspension of The Commissioner a few months after inauguration was to enhance an unbiased and thorough investigation into the matter according to The SSG Dr. Kingsley Emu in a statement.
Also suspended are Messrs Bennett Ezon-Abode Agamah, The Permanent Secretary of The Ministry, Engr. Oki Preowei Yintare, Assistant Director, Agricultural Engineering; and Mr. Gabriel Idiatacheko, Chief Accountant of the in the ministry.
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The affected officers were ordered “to proceed on compulsory leave until further notice in line with Civil Service extant rules.”
According to The SSG , the alleged fraud has to do with the ongoing greenhouse agricultural project of the state government being executed by The Agriculture Ministry.
“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 said.
The action was to sustain “the interim report of the committee and in order to have an unimpeded access to information during the period of the investigations.”
The SSG pointed out that the measure was not presumptuous of guilt against the suspended Commissioner and the other senior officers directed to proceed on mandatory leave till the conclusion of the investigation by the seven-man committee.
“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”, the statement further said.
Delta State Head of Service (HOS), Sir Reginald Bayoko, throwing more light on the case, explained that there was nothing strange or new about the action of state government, saying it was simply bureaucratic routine.
Addressing Journalists in his office, The HOS said that the state bureaucracy always adhered to the service extant rules and abhorred any form of administrative misdemeanour and financial impropriety, he however, implored Media Practitioners called on journalists to report objectively according to the ethics of their profession while “holding leaders and government accountable in the interest of Society.”
