Delta State suspends Works Commissioner, court remands him over alleged assault

The Delta State Government has indefinitely suspended the Commissioner for Works (Highway and Urban Roads), Hon. Izeze Rume Reuben, amid controversy over an alleged assault. The suspension is a direct response to allegations linking the commissioner to an incident on July 26 at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre in Effurun.

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The suspension is to enable the Security Agencies carry out an unbiased investigation of allegations associating him with the assault on Temple, at the PTI Center, Effurun, recently.

Announced in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Eze Emu, the suspension took immediate effect. The government stated the decision is crucial to enable security agencies to conduct an unbiased investigation into the allegations connecting the commissioner to the assault of Mr Simon Mudi, also known as Temple, the Senior Special Assistant on Protocol to the Delta State Government.

The government emphasized its commitment to public safety and law and order, asserting that this principle applies even when state institutions are involved. This administrative action is now paralleled by judicial proceedings, as an Effurun High Court has reportedly ordered the remand of Commissioner Izeze following his arraignment by the police in connection with the alleged assault.

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It would be foolhardy to suggest that the investigation is still being facilitated by the suspension when the investigation had already culminated in a formal criminal charge before the court.

Human rights lawyer Omes Ogedegbe welcomed the investigation but cautioned against viewing the remand order as a conviction. He noted that the matter has already progressed to a formal criminal charge, making the suspension's role in facilitating the investigation questionable. Ogedegbe stressed that while no one is above the law, the rights of the accused must be protected, citing the constitutional presumption of innocence.

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remand is not a conviction and must never be used as punishment before trial.