The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has declared wanted a staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Joseph Tony Ogah, for swindling the federal government of N36.2 million.

In a statement on Tuesday, the commission said Ogah, an indigene of Idah, Kogi State, was part of a crime syndicate that defrauded the federal ministry of Environment and all efforts made to locate him  have proved abortive.

The ICPC said that the Ogah used a company named Soft Alliance Disco Limited to pay huge salary arrears totalling N36, 194, 636.00 to fictitious staff on the payment platform of the ministry of
Environment.

The 38 years old, in connivance with the others perpetrated and benefited from the fraud as N9.4 million was paid into his account with the United Bank for Africa, UBA.

According to the commission, the statement of accounts obtained from UBA revealed that the money was drawn from the ministry and paid into the account (1006521816) belonging to Ogah.
The ICPC revealed that it requested Ogah to appear before it and answer questions regarding the transfer of money from another Ministry into his account, but he failed to do so.

Similarly, several efforts by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture through letters to compel him to appear before ICPC were not futile as Ogah had abandoned his duty post for at least three months.

The ministry, in response to the allegation and his failure to report to work, has stopped the payment of his salary and other entitlements since July 2015.