A former Commissioner for Agriculture in Kogi State, Zacchaeus Atte, has been convicted following his trial by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over misappropriation of funds.
The ICPC spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa, said Atte was convicted on corruption charges by the state High Court sitting in Okene, presided over by Justice J.J. Majebi.
According to the ICPC, it was an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 (ICPC Act).
Okoduwa said in the statement: “He was also sentenced on count 2, to five years imprisonment without an option of fine, “for receiving the sum of N350,000 being earmarked to defray the transportation costs of the farmers during the cocoa seedlings distribution exercise, which he failed to deliver.
“This is also an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the ICPC Act.”
The former Commissioner was further sentenced to one-year imprisonment each on counts 8 to 11 for “spending from the sum of N2,849,953 being amount earmarked for the purchase of office equipment.
“That which he called Statewide Sensitization Tour; visit to Lagos from Lokoja on issues of Power Tiller and Video Coverage” all contrary to and punishable under section 22(5) of the ICPC Act.”
According to Okoduwa, Atte was found guilty on seven out of the 11 counts charges brought against him by the ICPC.
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