Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved the suspension of the state commissioner for health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo. This decision was announced on Tuesday by Prince Okey Kanu, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Culture. The suspension is intended to facilitate the investigation of allegations of gross misconduct against Dr. Okoronkwo.

Prince Kanu emphasized that Governor Otti's action reflects his zero-tolerance policy for any form of misconduct and his strong commitment to the principles of transparency and accountability in governance. The governor aims to ensure that the actions of his appointees consistently promote the welfare and well-being of Abia's citizens.

The statement read: “The Abia State Government is committed to good governance and the rule of law, under which individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Consequently, the administration is meticulous in investigating and establishing the facts of any infractions or misconduct uncovered by its internal monitoring and feedback system."

In the interim, Dr. Ifeyinwa Kalu, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, will work in collaboration with Dr. Ngozi Azodo, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, to manage the Ministry's affairs pending the outcome of the investigation into the allegations against Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo.