Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has suspended the state’s Commissioner for Health, Ngozi Okoronkwo, on grounds of alleged gross misconduct.

The announcement was made yesterday by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Okey Kanu, in a statement issued in Umuahia, the state capital.

“The suspension is to pave the way for the investigation of allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the commissioner,” the statement read. The suspension aligns with the government’s zero-tolerance policy for misconduct and its strong commitment to the principles of transparency and accountability in governance.

The statement further emphasized that the measure ensures the actions of government appointees always promote the good and well-being of the state’s citizens. It reaffirmed the government’s dedication to good governance and the rule of law, underscoring that individuals 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,” the statement added.

During the investigation, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Ifeyinwa Kalu, is directed to liaise with the governor’s special adviser on health, Ngozi Azodo, to manage the ministry’s affairs until the investigations are concluded.