Follow Us on Google
From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has suspended his Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Omoun Perekebena Perez with immediate effect following a review of the implementation of the greenhouse project.
The governor also ordered top officials of the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources including the Permanent Secretary, Bennett Ezon-Abode Agamah; Assistant Director, Agricultural Engineering, Oki Preowei Yintareke; and Chief Accountant, Mr. Gabriel Idiatacheko, to proceed on compulsory leave until further notice in line with Civil Service extant rules.
The sum of N280 million was said to have been released some months ago for the greenhouse project located in Mbiri, Ika North-East Local Government Area of the state.
The agricultural project was aimed at cultivating tomatoes and other vegetable plants.
However a recent visit by the governor to the farm revealed that not much had been achieved, prompting him to constitute a seven-man review committee chaired by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Kingsley Emu, to investigate claim of perceived infractions related to the implementation of the project.
Acting on the interim report of the project review committee, Oborevwori approved Perez’s suspension with immediate effect, directing the concerned top ministry officials to proceed on compulsory leave.
In a statement issued by the SSG, Emu, explained that the latest action of the governor was to pave way for an unimpeded access to information during the period of full scale investigation.
But the statement swiftly added that the government’s action was “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.”
