Former Kogi Commissioner bags 19 years jail term

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Mr. Zachaeus Atte, a former commissioner for Agriculture in Kogi State.  

ICPC’s spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, disclosed that Atte was convicted on corruption charges by a Kogi State High Court sitting in Okene, presided over by Justice J.J. Majebi. 

According to Okoduwa, the former commissioner was found guilty on seven out of the 11 counts preferred against him by ICPC, adding that the convict was sentenced to five years imprisonment each on counts 1 and 3 without an option of fine for collecting the sum of N11, 937,000 and N8, 873,766:85, respectively, being money meant for “the raising and distribution of oil palm sprouted nuts seedlings” to cocoa farmers in the state, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the ICPC Act 2000.

She added: “He was also sentenced on count two to five years imprisonment without an option of fine “for receiving the sum of N350, 000, being amount earmarked to defray the transportation costs of the farmers during the cocoa seedlings distribution exercise,” 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 eight to 11 for “spending from the sum of N2,849,953:75, being amount earmarked for the purchase of office equipment on what he called statewide sensitization tour; visit Lagos from Lokoja on issues of power tiller and video coverage,” contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the ICPC Act.”