Niger State Government has denied suspending its Chief of Staff, Mikail Bmitosahi.
DAILY NIGERIAN had quoted a source closed to the state’s government house confirming the suspension of Mr Bmitosahi over incompetency and diversion of N600million.
However, a statement signed on Thursday by the state’s Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Danjuma Salau, refuted the report, stating that Mr Bmitosahi is en route UK for a workshop and another person had to be brought in to deputise on his behalf.
“On the allegation of gross misconduct and fraudulent diversion of N600 million, nothing is farther than the truth as the allegation is not only false but a calculated attempt to soil the image of the Chief of Staff whom the Governor has bestowed serious responsibilities since the inception of the administration.
“The Chief of Staff, the Chief Press Secretary and other top Niger state government functionaries are at present on the entourage of the governor to meet with the United States African Development Foundation to partner in Agriculture and solar grid development.
“Furthermore, the Chief of Staff would then proceed to the United Kingdom to attend a workshop organized by UK King’s College/Kings African Leadership centre with his APC Colleagues. It is instructive that in his absence somebody must deputise.
“On the alleged rift between the Chief Press Secretary and the Director General of ICT Government house, and not the Senior Special assistant as was wrongly quoted “ I can tell you without equivocation that it’s a figment of the writer’s imagination as the Chief Press Secretary is the Principal coordinator of all media machinery to the governor and there is no basis for any rift including the alleged N10 million mentioned,” the statement read in part.
