Rivers State Lead Representative, Siminalayi Fubara, has suspended Otonye Briggs, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area.
This was reported in a statement on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Lead Representative, Nelson Chukwudi.
As indicated in the statement, Briggs’ suspension is with immediate effective.
Chukwudi didn’t, in any case, give justifications for the suspension.
“The Governor has directed Hon Bitebobo Amiee to immediately take over as chairperson. Though specific reasons for the decision were not disclosed.
“Mr. Briggs is hereby directed to hand over all council property in his possession to the (new) Caretaker Committee Chairperson,” he said.
The suspension comes three months after Fubara introduced the chairpersons of the caretaker committee for the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
Their inauguration followed the termination of the three-year tenure of the former elected council officials in the state.
The action set off violence in the state between supporters of Lead Representative Fubara and those of his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who fills in as the FCT Minister.
The previous Local Government Chairmen, supported by Wike, had refused to leave office, instigating a face-off with Fubara’s allies that brought about the demise of two people, including a police officer.
After violence broke out, the Police Force directed its operatives to assume control of the 23 council secretariats.
In his three months in office, Briggs didn’t function from his official office, as the secretariat is still occupied by the police.
