Officers from the Independent Corrupt Practices 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.
It was discovered that the arrest had caused conflict among the FISS staff.
Also, over N250m cash was found in the Abuja house of one of the suspects.
Investigation by the ICPC detectives revealed an inflow of over N60m in six months into the bank account of one of the suspects.
The ICPC has also seized landed properties, including a bakery and one herbal hospital.
When contacted, the spokesperson for ICPC, Azuka Ogugua, said the investigation was still on.
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.”