By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Kano zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday January 21, arraigned one Andrew Oshome before Justice Shuaibu B. Shuaibu of the Kebbi State High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi on one count charge of misappropriation of funds to the tune of N44,800,000.
The defendant was arrested by operatives of the Anti-graft Agency following a petition by Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kebbi State Chapter.
The Association alleged that sometimes in 2011, the defendant diverted the sum N44,800,000 which the members contributed to acquire tractors through Kebbi State Agricultural Development Authority (KARDA) and Food Security Development of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
EFCC investigation reveals that the defendant invested the farmers’ money in a fixed deposit account and used same to purchase a vessel.
The one count charge reads, “That you Andrew Oshome on or about the 3rd of May, 2011 at Kebbi within the Jurisdiction of the Kebbi State High Court, being entrusted with certain property to wit: the sum of N44,800,000 (Forty-Four Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira Only) property of Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kebbi State did dishonestly misappropriated the money and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 312 of the same Law.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge. Justice Shuaibu therefore adjourned the matter till February 24 and 25, 2021 for trial, and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Correctional Centre.
