ICPC Interrogates Senior Officials Of Federal Ministry Of Agriculture For Alleged Funds Diversion

In a significant development, approximately five senior officials from the Department of Farm Inputs Support Services (FISS) within the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have been apprehended by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The officials are facing allegations of diverting funds intended for critical initiatives.

The arrests transpired around 9 am on a Thursday during a meticulously executed sting operation that spanned about an hour. The operation took place at the officials’ office situated on the 5th Floor of the Bank of Agriculture Building, within the Central Business District in Garki, Abuja.

According to reports, four of the detained officials were held for a duration of five days before ultimately being released. The fifth individual, who is a director among them, was reportedly released on health grounds. This development has triggered a sense of unease among staff within the FISS and other affiliated entities operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Sources indicate that the ongoing investigation is linked to the alleged misappropriation of funds that were earmarked for vital monitoring exercises and sensitization programs. The purported diversion of these funds has reportedly hampered the efficient monitoring and evaluation of farm inputs.

Remarkably, the investigation has uncovered substantial financial discrepancies. It has been reported that one of the officials under scrutiny had more than N200 million (Nigerian Naira) in their bank account, while an additional sum exceeding N100 million was discovered in an account associated with one of the official’s children. Furthermore, a substantial amount of over N250 million in cash was found within the Abuja residence of one of the suspects.

The ICPC’s detectives have unveiled a series of financial transactions, notably an inflow of over N60 million into the bank account of one of the suspects within a span of six months. In addition to these findings, the ICPC has also taken possession of various landed properties, including a bakery and an herbal hospital.

In response to inquiries, Azuka Ogugua, the spokesperson for the ICPC, refrained from offering specific details due to the ongoing nature of the investigation. Ogugua highlighted the ICPC’s commitment to conducting thorough investigations without engaging in media trials, underscoring that the outcomes would be disclosed once the cases proceed to court. This approach, she emphasized, upholds the principles of fairness and professional ethics.