… sends Perm Sec, Assistant Director and Accountant on Compulsory leave
By: Emmanuel Abi Couson
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has suspended the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources Hon Omoun Perekebena Perez, while Messrs Bennett Ezon-Abode Agamah, Permanent Secretary; Engr. Oki Preowei Yintareke, Assistant Director, Agricultural Engineering and Mr. Gabriel Idiatacheko, Chief Accountant are to go on compulsory leave.
This is according to a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu.
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.”
According to a statement “, that consequent upon the interim report of the committee and in other to have an 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.
It would be recalled that Perez Omoun, the Permanent Secretary, Ben Agamah and some workers in the ministry have been accused of illegally transferring N280 million meant for agricultural programmes to a private account which violates the Public Procurement Act
