Ebonyi governor suspends female aide for “unruly behaviour”

The Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, on Sunday suspended his special adviser in charge of Lagos Liaison Office, Jacinta Nworie, indefinitely for alleged “unruly behaviour”.

A statement by the governor’s Principal Secretary, Nweke Clement, said the suspension followed an alleged unruly behaviour and acts unbecoming of a public office holder, which portrayed the state in a bad light.

The statement further directed the suspended Special Adviser to immediately hand over all government property in her possession to the most senior civil servant in the office.

Prior to her suspension, Ms. Nworie was first redeployed to the office of Special Adviser on Talent Development under the office of the Secretary to the state government last week.

A source in the state government said her suspension might not be unconnected with her refusal to return to the state to assume the new post.

Ms. Nworie’s suspension is the second by the governor after that of the Senior Special Assistant on Security, Ali Odefa, a few months ago. Mr. Odefa was suspended for one month.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the governor had on several occasions threatened to remove non-performing aides and commissioners, warning they either “shape up or be shipped out”.