Ex-Kogi Commissioner Sentences to 19 Years Imprisonment
A former commissioner for Agriculture in Kogi State, Zachaeus Atte has been sentenced to 19 years imprisonment for diverting over nineteen million naira meant for cocoa farming.
The conviction which was secured by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said, Atte was convicted on corruption charges by a Kogi State High Court sitting in Okene, Kogi State and presided over by Hon. Justice J.J Majebi.
The former commissioner was found guilty on 7 out of the 11 counts of the charge preferred against him by ICPC, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment each on the counts 1 and 3 without an option of fine, for illegally collecting the sum of N=11,937,000:00 and =N=8,873,766:85K respectively.
The money was said to be meant for “the raising and distribution of Oil Palm Sprouted Nuts Seedlings” to cocoa farmers in Kogi State but the former commissioner embezzled the money and did not raise nor distribute same, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 (ICPC Act).
Atte was also sentenced on count 2 to five years imprisonment without giving him an option of fine, “for receiving the sum of =N=350,000:00 meant to take care of the transportation costs of the farmers during the cocoa seedlings distribution exercise” and embezzled same and also committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the ICPC Act.
Atte was further sentenced to 1 year imprisonment each on counts 8 to 11 for “spending from the sum of =N=2,849,953:75K being amount budgeted to buy office equipment on what he termed Statewide Sensitization Tour; visit to Lagos from Lokoja on issues of Power Tiller; and Video Coverage” contrary to and punishable under section 22(5) of the ICPC Act.
In his ruling, the trial judge justified the conviction of the defendant, adding that the ICPC Legal team comprising Late Suberu Enebere Esq., Okey Golden Iwuagu Esq., and Peace Arocha Esq. (Mrs.) had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The conviction which was secured by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said, Atte was convicted on corruption charges by a Kogi State High Court sitting in Okene, Kogi State and presided over by Hon. Justice J.J Majebi.
The former commissioner was found guilty on 7 out of the 11 counts of the charge preferred against him by ICPC, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment each on the counts 1 and 3 without an option of fine, for illegally collecting the sum of N=11,937,000:00 and =N=8,873,766:85K respectively.
The money was said to be meant for “the raising and distribution of Oil Palm Sprouted Nuts Seedlings” to cocoa farmers in Kogi State but the former commissioner embezzled the money and did not raise nor distribute same, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 (ICPC Act).
Atte was also sentenced on count 2 to five years imprisonment without giving him an option of fine, “for receiving the sum of =N=350,000:00 meant to take care of the transportation costs of the farmers during the cocoa seedlings distribution exercise” and embezzled same and also committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the ICPC Act.
Atte was further sentenced to 1 year imprisonment each on counts 8 to 11 for “spending from the sum of =N=2,849,953:75K being amount budgeted to buy office equipment on what he termed Statewide Sensitization Tour; visit to Lagos from Lokoja on issues of Power Tiller; and Video Coverage” contrary to and punishable under section 22(5) of the ICPC Act.
In his ruling, the trial judge justified the conviction of the defendant, adding that the ICPC Legal team comprising Late Suberu Enebere Esq., Okey Golden Iwuagu Esq., and Peace Arocha Esq. (Mrs.) had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
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