The FADAMA coordinator of Ebonyi state, Dr. Cletus Nwakpu, has been suspended by Governor David Umahi over allegations of fraud. The suspension was announced during a virtual State Executive Council meeting in Abakaliki, following the presentation of a report by the state Fiscal Responsibility Commission. The report implicated Nwakpu in financial misappropriation and other violations of his oath of office.
According to the report, Nwakpu was accused of not delivering complete agricultural inputs to the farmers who had paid for them and also failing to refund the payments made. Additionally, it was reported that a payment of ninety-one thousand naira (N91,000) for a unit of rice machine was neither supplied to the farmers nor refunded.
In light of these allegations, Governor Umahi directed the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala, to assume the office in an acting capacity. Furthermore, he instructed the Head of Service, Dr. Chamberlain Nwele, to take disciplinary action against Nwakpu in accordance with civil service rules.