Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has suspended the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the state, Omoun Perez.
Oborevwori suspended Perez over allegations of misappropriation of funds allocated for a greenhouse project.
Consequently, the governor has set up a seven-man committee to investigate the allegations.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Kingsley Emu, the governor ordered top officials of the ministry including the Permanent Secretary, Bennet Agamah, assistant director, agricultural engineering, Oki Yintareke, and chief accountant, Gabriel Idiatacheko to proceed on compulsory leave until further notice.
The directive followed the outcome of the review of the implementation of the greenhouse project by the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural resources, Mr Emu said.
“The government’s decision is in no way a presumption of guilt but rather a necessary measure to uphold the sanctity of the investigative process already instituted which is to ensure that investigation is concluded without any potential for undue influence or bias,” he said.
Governor Oborevwori in January inspected the Accelerated Agriculture Development Scheme at Mbiri Farm Settlement and Agro-Industrial Park, Aboh-Ogwashi in Ika North-east and Aniocha South Local Government Areas of the state.
He promised to disburse N2 billion to farmers within the month in Special Agricultural Intervention Fund.
