Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has indefinitely suspended the Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Reuben Izeze, over allegations linking him to the reported assault of the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Simon Mudi, popularly known as Temple.

The suspension took immediate effect and was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu.

According to the state government, the decision was taken to allow security agencies to conduct an unbiased investigation into allegations connecting the commissioner with the assault of Mudi at the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun.

It explained that the suspension was necessary to ensure that the investigation was conducted without interference.

“The suspension is to enable the Security Agencies carry out an unbiased investigation of allegations associating him with the assault on the Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Mr. Simon Mudi also known as Temple, at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, recently,” the statement said.

The state government stressed that it remained committed to protecting lives, maintaining public safety and upholding the rule of law, regardless of the status of individuals or institutions allegedly connected to an incident.

It said public safety and the rule of law must be upheld “even when institutions of state are involved.”

This development follows reports that Izeze was arrested and taken to the Ekpan Police Station for questioning over his alleged connection with the assault.

The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday, July 26, when Mudi was allegedly attacked and severely beaten by suspected thugs said to be linked to the commissioner.

While recounting the incident, Mudi alleged that more than 70 men were mobilised to attack him during the Delta Central All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting.

He claimed that the assault was a continuation of an earlier attack against him that had gone unresolved.

According to him, the first incident occurred on June 26 during the burial of an acquaintance in Okwagbe, where he alleged that over 24 youths attacked him in the presence of Governor Oborevwori and other witnesses.