By Peter Duru

MAKURDI—Following his alleged involvement in a murder case, Benue State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Sekav Iyortyom, was, yesterday, suspended for three months by the state Executive Council, pending the determination of the murder charges against him.

Also suspended from office for three months was the Sole Administrator of Buruku Local Government Area, Mr. David Yiman, who is also facing murder charges.

State Information and Orientation Commissioner, Chief Odeh Ageh, announced the suspension at the end of the weekly State Executive Council meeting in Makurdi.

He said: “The decision of the council would be communicated to the state House of Assembly, which will also be requested to approve an acting Sole Administrator for Buruku. I must emphasise that the council took the decision in line with the policy of the Ortom administration to comply with the Rule of Law and due process. At the end of three months, the council may review its decision, depending the outcome of the charges.”

According to Chief Ageh, the decision was also taken in consonance with the precedence set in the removal or suspension of indicted, arraigned or convicted executive council members and top government officials in compliance with the core values of the administration which included justice, fairness, and integrity.