The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) allegedly arrested and interrogated about five senior officials in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Department of Farm Inputs Support Services over alleged fund diversion.
According to The PUNCH, the top officials were apprehended about 9 a.m. on Thursday in a one-hour sting operation in their office on the 5th Floor of the Bank of Agriculture Building in Garki, Abuja.
Four of the officials were arrested for five days by anti-corruption agents before being released. The director was claimed to have been released due to health concerns.
The PUNCH has learned that the arrest caused tension among FISS and other parastatals under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
According to a source, the probe is related to the diversion of monies intended for monitoring and sensitization programs, which impacted the monitoring and evaluation of farm inputs.
Over N200m was discovered in the bank account of one of the officials being questioned, while over N100m was discovered in the bank account of one of his children.
In addition, almost N250 million in cash was discovered in the Abuja home of one of the accused.
An examination by ICPC detectives discovered an inflow of nearly N60m into one of the suspects’ bank account in six months.
The ICPC has also confiscated real estate, including a bakery and a herbal hospital.
Azuka Ogugua, ICPC’s spokesperson, stated on the platform:
“We don’t give updates on our cases to journalists. We don’t do media trials, that was why I didn’t respond (to your several enquiries. How do you now expect me to start disclosing to you? It doesn’t make sense. I can’t tell you; that is wrong. It’s unethical. How can I be telling you the outcome of our investigation?
“When the case goes to court, it will be in the public domain. There is nothing I can discuss. It will be tantamount to media trial.”
