Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has removed the Commissioner for Works, Stanley Lebechi Mbam, from office with immediate effect.
The removal was announced on Saturday, September 19, 2026, in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor.
According to the statement, Mbam is to immediately hand over all government property in his possession, including his official vehicle, to the Secretary to the State Government.
He was also directed to hand over the affairs of the Ministry of Works to the Permanent Secretary.
“The Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has directed the immediate removal from office of the Honourable Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam,” Uzor said in the statement.
The government did not give a specific reason for the latest removal.
It, however, said Nwifuru remained committed to effective governance and improving public infrastructure in the state.
The removal is the latest disciplinary action involving Mbam since he became Works Commissioner under Nwifuru.
On July 28, 2025, Mbam was among 87 government officials suspended by the governor for failing to attend an important government function. The group included 25 commissioners, 22 permanent secretaries, 14 senior special assistants and 24 special assistants. The suspension was later lifted for most of the affected officials, with Mbam among those who returned to duty.
On February 28, 2026, Nwifuru again suspended Mbam indefinitely alongside the Commissioner for Infrastructure Development for Concession, Ogbonnaya Obasi Abara, over alleged dereliction of duty.
Days later, Mbam apologised to the governor and took responsibility for what he described as lapses in the Ministry of Works, asking for a second chance.
“Your Excellency, I apologise for every perceived disappointment; we will do better, and a second chance won’t be taken for granted,” Mbam said in March.
On May 3, 2026, Nwifuru announced the recall of suspended government officials during a church service at the Government House Chapel in Abakaliki, allowing Mbam to return to his position.
The latest removal came four days after Mbam publicly spoke about the state government’s infrastructure record. On September 15, 2026, he said the Nwifuru administration had completed more than 627 kilometres of roads across Ebonyi State.
