Delta demotes two engineers for corruption, misconduct
Delta State Government has demoted two senior engineers in the state Ministry of Works over alleged issuance of certificates of completion for road projects that remain unfinished.
The disciplinary action was communicated via a letter signed by William O. Ogolokpe on behalf of the State Head of Service, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Friday.
The letter named the sanctioned officials as Gabriel Evuarhere and Samuel Nwokolobia.
The letter affirmed that both officers were culpable of misconduct explaining that “they were involved in the issuance of certificates of completion for road projects that remain unfinished, a clear case of professional misconduct and administrative corruption”.
“The sanctioned officials, Engr. Evuarhere and Engr. Nwokolobia has been found guilty of corruption, dishonesty, and procedural breaches”, the letter stated.
It reads further, “As a consequence, Evuarhere has been downgraded from Deputy Director to Assistant Director, while Nwokolobia has been demoted from Assistant Director to Chief Engineer.
“Engr. Gabriel Evuarhere is demoted from Deputy Director (SGL 16) to Assistant Director (SGL 15), effective January 1, 2024.
“Engr. Samuel Nwokolobia is demoted from Assistant Director (SGL 15) to Chief Engineer (SGL 14), effective January 1, 2024.
“Additionally, their next promotions have been deferred, with Evuarhere’s advancement to Deputy Director postponed until January 1, 2028, and Nwokolobia’s promotion to Assistant Director delayed until January 1, 2027”.
PUNCH Online gathered that the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, while acknowledging the gravity of the offences of the two engineers had earlier intervened to soften the disciplinary measures, reducing their punishment from outright dismissal to rank reduction.
Oborevwori who has repeatedly emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for corruption, warned that future violators would not receive such leniency and would face the full extent of the law.
