Agents from the Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission detained about five senior members of the Department of Farm Inputs Supports Services of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development over alleged money laundering.
In an hour-long sting operation that took place in their office on the fifth floor of the Bank of Agriculture Building in Garki, Abuja, they were reportedly detained about nine in the morning on Thursday.
It was discovered that four of the officials were held by the ICPC for five days before being freed. It was reported that the director of the group had been let go for health reasons.
The arrest, according to information obtained, has strained relations between the FISS staff and that of other parastatals within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
According to a source, the probe is related to the misappropriation of funds for projects to monitor exercise and sensitization.
The circumstance was stated to have made it difficult to monitor and assess farm inputs.
One of the officers being questioned had more than N200 million in his bank account, and one of his children had more than N100 million.
Additionally, more than N250m in cash was discovered in one of the suspects’ Abuja home.
Over N60 million was deposited into one of the suspects’ bank account over the course of six months, according to an investigation by the ICPC detectives.
A bakery and one herbal hospital are among the landed properties that the ICPC has taken control of.
The ICPC’s spokeswoman, Azuka Ogugua, responded that the inquiry was still ongoing when contacted.
She said, “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.”
