Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has suspended two members of his cabinet: the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, and the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Francis Ori.
Sources confirm that the suspension was announced during a State Executive Council meeting held on Monday in Abakaliki, the state capital.
In a statement released on Tuesday morning by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, and obtained by News Central, the decision was attributed to allegations of misconduct. The statement read:
“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.”
Reports suggest that the suspensions are linked to separate issues within their respective ministries. The Commissioner for Health faces scrutiny over alleged theft of Ministry of Health property by officials under his watch.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development is accused of underperformance, particularly in his management of the Amaeze Housing Scheme in Ishielu Local Government Area.
The matter escalated on Saturday night when Governor Nwifuru personally visited the Ministry of Health and found six officials allegedly diverting government materials. He ordered their arrest and subsequent prosecution.
