Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has lifted the suspension of the Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Reuben Izeze, directing him to resume office after completing 10 weeks from the date of his suspension. The governor made this announcement during the swearing-in ceremony of the Auditor-General and members of the governing councils of the University of Delta, Southern Delta University, and Dennis Osadebay University at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.
According to Oborevwori, Izeze had appealed to him for forgiveness and acknowledged his willingness to return to the public to address the issue that led to his suspension. Izeze sent a message to the governor on Tuesday morning asking for forgiveness and requesting that he inform the public that he had just returned from the correctional facility.
The governor said Izeze's appeal and decision to face the public had influenced his decision to lift the suspension. Oborevwori emphasized that his administration's style is different from the past, and public officials must behave well, as nobody is above the law. He noted that Izeze's willingness to plead and face the public, despite being under suspension, was a significant factor in his decision.
Izeze was suspended indefinitely on August 10 by the state government following allegations linking him to the assault of the governor's Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Simon Mudi, popularly known as Temple. The incident occurred during an All Progressives Congress stakeholders' meeting at the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Delta State.
The state government said at the time that the suspension was necessary to allow security agencies to conduct an impartial investigation into the allegations without interference. Before his suspension, Izeze was arraigned before a Delta State High Court sitting in Effurun over the alleged assault and was remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Okere, Warri.
During his period in custody, Izeze became involved in the welfare of other inmates, discovering that several inmates remained in custody because they could not pay fines imposed by courts as alternatives to their prison terms. The allegations surrounding the Effurun incident remain matters for due process, while the governor's Tuesday announcement settles the administrative question of Izeze's suspension.
With the lifting of the suspension, Izeze is expected to resume work after completing the 10-week timeline. The governor's decision has significant implications for Izeze's career and the administration of justice in Delta State. The incident and subsequent suspension had raised concerns about the conduct of public officials and the need for accountability in government.
Key points
- Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has lifted the suspension of Commissioner for Works, Reuben Izeze, after 10 weeks.
- Izeze was suspended over allegations of assaulting the governor's Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Simon Mudi.
- The governor's decision was influenced by Izeze's appeal and willingness to face the public.
