The redeployment saw Tatabuzogwu move to Physical Planning and Urban Renewal, while Michael Ifeanyi Anoka, former commissioner for Physical Planning, assumed leadership of the Energy Ministry.

The unexpected redeployment of Delta State’s Commissioner for Energy, Sunny Tatabuzogwu, to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Renewal, and the reassignment of Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, to the Ministry of Primary Education, has been linked to alleged corrupt practices.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori last month approved the reshuffle in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Kingsley Eze Emu. 

The redeployment saw Tatabuzogwu move to Physical Planning and Urban Renewal, while Michael Ifeanyi Anoka, former commissioner for Physical Planning, assumed leadership of the Energy Ministry.

Similarly, Mrs. Rose Ezewu was moved to the Ministry of Primary Education, with Kingsley Ashibuogwu taking over her previous role in Secondary Education. The changes took effect immediately.

It was gathered that Governor Oborevwori, reportedly frustrated by a series of alleged corrupt practices by the two commissioners, implemented the redeployments as a warning to others in the government.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a former Permanent Secretary privy to the probe said that the former energy commissioner, now in charge of physical planning and urban renewal, was allegedly involved in a secret deal with the State’s Independent Power Plant (IPP), which serves the State Secretariat, the Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat, and other government offices in the State capital.

"You know that the IPP is a baby project initiated by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's administration with a huge interest. The project is to serve the state government. Individuals also tap electricity from the IPP to their residence and offices. And they usually approach the energy ministry overseeing the IPP and pay certain fees, but rather than paying such fees to the state government coffers, the former commissioner, in connivance with some of his senior staff members, were diverting the funds to private bank accounts,” the source said.

"It was one of the commissioners who drew the attention of the governor to the corrupt and fraudulent practices and the governor was very furious. The said commissioner had tapped electricity from the IPP to his residence in Asaba and he demanded an account to pay the fees into but surprisingly, he was given a private account which he paid into.”

The source said after the payment, “the commissioner took the evidence to the governor and investigation was carried out and it was discovered that huge funds belonging to the state government were been diverted to the private bank account”. 

“And this got the governor more infuriated and immediately approved the redeployment of the then-energy commissioner,” the source said.

“The governor actually wanted to fire him but decided to redeploy him because he was nominated by former Governor Okowa. Because of Okowa's interest and to protect his interest in the IPP, the energy ministry is always ceded to Okowa who will singlehandedly nominate his stooges to the ministry.” 

The source explained that after Governor Oborevwori was sworn in in 2023, former Governor Okowa, seeking to protect his interests in the IPP, nominated Jerry Ehiwarior as Commissioner for Energy. 

Ehiwarior later resigned and now serves as chairman of Ika South Local Government, and Sunny Tatabuzogwu, a former chairman of Ika South council, was brought in as his replacement. 

The source also alleged that the redeployed Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, was deeply involved in extortion, imposition of illegal levies, and other corrupt acts, noting that her conduct reportedly angered the governor.

It was gathered that two deputy directors from the Ministry of Energy, Unabor Austin (Deputy Director, Electrical) and Nwaebo Frank (Deputy Director, Electrical), who were allegedly collaborating with the former commissioner to defraud the state, have also been redeployed to the Office of the Head of Service.

A circular titled “Deployment,” with reference number HOS/PM/26/VOL.V/58 and dated January 27, 2026, confirmed the redeployment. 

The circular, signed by Usenu A.I. on behalf of the Head of Service, was addressed to the State Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Commissioners, Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Accountant-General, Auditor-General (State and Local Government), and other relevant government authorities and agencies.

The circular reads in part: "I am directed to announce the deployment of the underlisted officers with immediate effect.

"i. Unabor Austin Deputy Director (Electrical) from the Ministry of Energy to the Office of the Head of Service. Ii. Nwaebo Frank U. Deputy Director (Electrical.), from the Ministry of Energy to the Office of the Head of Service."

Efforts to reach the former Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, for comment were unsuccessful, as her mobile phone could not be reached.

When the former Energy commissioner, Sunny Tatabuzogwu was contacted, he said, "I’m no longer in that ministry and I can't answer any question from there. You didn't give me job, are you my governor? This is my first time of hearing anything concerning this your question."