By Amos Aar
THE POLICE have explained the delay in the prosecution of accused persons in an alleged multi-million-naira fraud rocking the agricultural sector in Nasarawa State.
National Record reported Wednesday allegations of N675 million fraud contained in a petition by the United Farmers Association, Kadarko (UFAK) against some individuals and financial institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
UFAK, in the petition signed by its president, Chief Dennis Denen Utsa, and addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) in charge of Zone 4 Headquarters, Makurdi, accused Amos Manasseh Agbo, Haruna Adamu, and Tanko Sarki, as well as CBN, Keystone Bank, and Nirsal Microfinance Bank, of criminal conspiracy, fraud, and cheating.
UFAK is also criticizing the police over delays in promptly taking the case to court, despite their complaints spanning nearly three years.
Responding to expressed frustrations by UFAK leadership on the dragging of the fraud investigations and delay in the arraignment of the accused persons and financial institutions behind the alleged fraud, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) John Mark Iorshagher, who is the lead Investigating Police Officer (IPO), told National Record that the investigation was still ongoing.
He urged UFAK President, Mr. Dennis Utsa, to visit the Zone 4 headquarters in Makurdi to sign the required documents to proceed with legal action.
Speaking to our reporter at the Zone 4 headquarters, ASP Iorshagher accused Utsa of failing to cooperate with the police in the investigation.
He claimed Utsa had ignored multiple requests to mobilize the police to assess the alleged crime scene, thereby stalling the investigation.
“We have called Mr Utsa several times to come and sign, but he has refused to show up. There was a time we summoned all parties involved, including the suspects and Mr. Utsa. The suspects came, but Utsa kept saying he was on his way, yet he never arrived.
“We cannot proceed to court without the complainant’s cooperation. Why is he not coming? Let him come and sign the First Information Report (FIR),” ASP Iorshagher stated even as he claimed the investigation was still inconclusive.
When contacted by National Record, Mr. Amos Manasseh Agbo, one of the key individuals named in the petition, declined to comment.
“If the police are handling the matter, I believe we should wait for the outcome of the investigation to determine who is the victim and who is the prime suspect,” Agbo said.
Responding to a counter accusation against him by the police, the UFAK president denied receiving any invitation from the police to sign FIR for the case to be charged to court.
On the claim by the police that UFAK ignored multiple requests to mobilize the police to assess the alleged crime scene, Utsa counter-claimed that UFAK sponsored the police investigation.
In response to this, the lead IPO claimed that Utsa gave the police only ten thousand naira (N10,000) which he (IPO) said was not enough for three police officers to transport themselves from Makurdi, the Benue State capital, to Obi local government area of Nasarawa State to carry out investigation.
“Police have never asked me to sign any documents. The IPO demanded money to type report, which I gave. We gave money for investigation activity. If investigation is not complete, then how come about police report?
“Like I alleged on corruption and conspiracy to protect suspects because of influence, the response of the IPO is in conformity.
“Amos Manasseh Agbo is being protected because his father is a police officer. They can charge a case to court even without the complainant.
“We have several petitions over the inaction and no response from the police. The other time, the IPO alleged that it was because he went for special duty since last year, and we objected to such because it was not personal”, Utsa insisted.
On why UFAK reported the alleged fraud case to the police rather than anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Utsa said, “we the locals are closer to police and they have mandate to investigate and make recovery”.
