Ex-IAR&T DG, 2 others jailed 40 years

A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, sentenced former Director General of the Institute of Agricultural, Research and Training (IAR&T), Professor Benjamen Ogunmodede, to 40 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

Two others sentenced alongside Professor Ogunmodede are Zackous Tejumola and Adenekan Clement.

Professor Ogunmodede is the former boss of IAR&T, Ibadan, while Tejumade and Adenekan were the chief accountant and staff member of the institution, respectively.

They were charged on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful conversion, stealing of school subversion and other charges since 2011.

Justice Ayo Emmanuel sentenced the accused to four years per charge and however said the 40 years will be run concurrently.

According to the judgment, the accused diverted over N177 million from N600 million received as subvention from the Federal Government to pay salaries and execute certain projects in the institute, adding that they did not follow due process even in some executed projects.

Justice Emmanuel said the pieces of evidence presented before the court showed that they were guilty of the charges.

The judgment indicated that the defendants had said they use part of the money to bribe members of the House of Representatives and some staff of the Federal Ministry of Finance after they facilitated the release of the fund for the institution.

Justice Emmanuel said bribe and money laundering were prohibited in the country.

“It must be borne in mind that the judicial sentencing is to serve as a deterrent for those with such similar criminal tendencies and for rehabilitation of the accused. The two reasons are sociological in nature,” Justice Emmanuel said.

Speaking with journalists after the judgment, the lead counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nkereuwem Anana, said the judgment was an indication that Nigeria was aimed at getting rid of corruption.