Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has directed the immediate suspension of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Omoun Perez.
Additionally, the governor mandated the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Bennett Agamah; Assistant Director, Agricultural Engineering, Oki Yintareke; and Chief Accountant, Gabriel Idiatacheko, to take compulsory leave until further notice, following civil service rules.
The decision, disclosed in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, and shared with journalists in Warri on Wednesday, stems from a review of the Greenhouse project’s implementation by the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
To ensure an unbiased investigation, Governor Oborevwori established a seven-man committee led by Dr. Kingsley Emu to probe claims and perceived infractions related to the project’s management. The governor emphasized that this action doesn’t presume guilt but aims to maintain the integrity of the ongoing investigative processes.
The statement read, “Oborevwori has constituted a seven-man committee chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, to investigate the claims and perceived infractions related to the management of the scheme by the ministry.
“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.”
Governor Oborevwori reassured the state’s residents of his administration’s commitment to completing ongoing projects and initiating new ones for sustainable development, as stated by his spokesperson, Festus Ahon.