BY ANDREW IKEHI
The hope of one Mr. Apitikori Oghenebrohien seeking a return into the payroll of the Delta State Government was yesterday dashed as the State House of Assembly at its plenary dismissed his petition against the office of the State Accountant General
The petition, which was dismissed by the State House of Assembly for lack of merit, came following a unanimous adoption of the recommendations of the state Assembly’s Public Petitions Committee presented by its Chairman, Hon. Matthew Omonade during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor.
Presenting the committee’s report on the outcome of its investigative hearing and findings on the alleged stoppage of salary and removal of Mr Apitikori Oghenebrorhien from the payroll of the Delta State Government, Hon. Omonade maintained that the committee carefully examined all evidences from both the petitioner and the respondent.
The lawmaker stressed that part of the committee’s finding was that the petitioner absconded for 11 years, having failed to respond to series of queries given to him on issues of absence from duty, which is a serious offence as enshrined in the Delta State Public Service Rule, 2012.
In its recommendations, the committee urged the house to dismiss the petition for lack of merit, direct the office of the Accountant General to invoke the penalty for absenteeism as stipulated by state public service rules on the petitioner to serve as deterrent to other defiant civil servants as well as bar the petitioner from presenting the petition again before the Delta State House of Assembly.
The house in a motion by the member representing Bomadi State Constituency, Hon. Oboro Preyor, called on the Delta State Civil Service Commission to follow up the police case on the alleged embezzlement of N480 million involving the petitioner and others.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor directed the clerk to communicate the resolutions of the house to relevant authorities and urged the house committee on Compliance to ensure that resolutions are complied with.
Also at plenary, Leader of the house and Chairman, Joint committees on Special Bills, Peace and Security, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi submitted a report on the Delta State Community Security Corps Agency bill.
