Otti Suspends Health Commissioner

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has suspended the health commissioner, Ngozi Okoronkwo, from office over alleged gross misconduct.

The commissioner for information and culture, Okey Kanu, stated this in a statement yesterday made available to newsmen in Umuahia, the state capital.

The statement explained, “The suspension is to pave the way for the investigation of allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the commissioner.”

It said the suspension was in accordance with the zero-tolerance policy for misconduct of any kind and strong adherence to the twin principles of transparency and accountability in governance.

It further said the measure was aimed at ensuring that the actions of government appointees always advance the good and well-being of the state’s people.

The statement maintained that the government was committed to good governance and the rule of law under which persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“Consequently, the administration is painstaking in investigating and establishing facts of infractions or misconduct uncovered by its internal monitoring and feedback system.”

Given this, it directed the ministry’s permanent secretary, Ifeyinwa Kalu, to liaise with the governor’s special adviser on health, Ngozi Azodo, to run the ministry until further investigations into the allegations were concluded.