Barely 18 days after The Story reported the suspension of two engineers from the ministry of Works, over their alleged involvement in substandard project executions, the State government has announced the demotion of two senior engineers, Engr. Gabriel Evuarhere and Engr. Samuel Nwokolobia.
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, have been found guilty of corruption, dishonesty, and procedural breaches.
As a consequence, Evuarhere has been downgraded from Deputy Director to Assistant Director, while Nwokolobia has been demoted from Assistant Director to Chief Engineer.
The disciplinary action, communicated via a letter signed by William O. Ogolokpe on behalf of the Head of Service, confirmed that both officers were culpable of misconduct. The letter outlined their penalties:
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.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, while acknowledging the gravity of their offenses, intervened to soften the disciplinary measures, reducing their punishment from outright dismissal to rank reduction.
The governor, 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.
This case raises pressing concerns about accountability and oversight within the state’s engineering and project monitoring system.
It also underscores the need for stricter enforcement mechanisms to prevent further financial mismanagement and ensure that public funds deliver tangible infrastructure improvements.
It would be recall that The Story, had earlier reported that the State government, suspended two engineers in the state’s Ministry of Works over their alleged involvement in substandard project executions.
