By Nurat Uthman
Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have arrested approximately five senior officials from the Department of Farm Inputs Supports Services in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The officials were apprehended at around 9 am on Thursday in a sting operation that took place in their office at the 5th Floor of the Bank of Agriculture Building, located in the Central Business District of Garki, Abuja.
According to reports, the ICPC detained four of the officials for a period of five days before releasing them. However, one of the directors was released on health grounds. The arrests have caused tension among the staff of the Department of Farm Inputs Supports Services and other agencies within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Sources indicate that the investigation is related to the alleged misappropriation of funds intended for monitoring exercises and sensitization programs. The situation has reportedly hindered the monitoring and evaluation of farm inputs.
Furthermore, it has been discovered that one of the officials being interrogated had over N200 million in their bank account, while one of their children had over N100 million in their account. Additionally, a sum of over N250 million in cash was found at the Abuja residence of one of the suspects.
Further investigation by ICPC detectives revealed that one of the suspects had received over N60 million in six months, directly deposited into their bank account. The ICPC has also seized various properties, including a bakery and a herbal hospital.
When contacted for comment, the spokesperson for the ICPC, Azuka Ogugua, stated that the investigation is still ongoing. She emphasized that the ICPC does not provide updates on their cases to the media and does not engage in media trials.
Ogugua highlighted that disclosing information about the investigation would be unethical and that the outcome of the case would become public when it goes to court.
