ICPC Drags Ex-ARMTI Finance Director to Court Over ₦100m+ Contract Fraud
By Admin
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a former Director of Finance and Supply at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Kwara State, Ibitoye Olajide Moses, before the Kwara State High Court over alleged contract fraud involving more than ₦100 million.
Moses was arraigned before Justice H.A. Saleeman on a 24-count charge bordering on abuse of office, conferring unfair advantage, acquisition of private interests in public contracts, misappropriation of funds, and making false statements to investigators.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following his plea, defence counsel, Oluwasheye Adeboye, applied for bail, which was not opposed by the prosecution counsel, David Nwaze. The court subsequently granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties resident within the court’s jurisdiction, one of whom must own landed property.
The case was adjourned to May 26, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
According to the ICPC, investigations revealed that the defendant allegedly exploited his position to influence the award of several contracts worth tens of millions of naira to companies in which he had direct and indirect interests.
One of the key allegations is that Moses benefited from a ₦48.52 million contract for entrepreneurship training on oil palm production for women in Akwa Ibom State. The contract was awarded to Magic Touch Business Solutions Ltd, a company in which he is allegedly a director and shareholder.
He is also accused of deriving financial benefits from a ₦29.95 million contract for dry season farming training and a ₦40 million contract for youth and women empowerment in agricultural value chains—both awarded to the same company.
In another instance, the defendant allegedly received an indirect benefit of ₦550,000 from a ₦28.85 million contract awarded to Synergy Impact Consulting Ltd.
Further charges detail additional contracts valued at ₦15.8 million, ₦14.96 million, ₦10 million, and ₦19.83 million, among others, in which the defendant allegedly had interests and used his influence in the procurement process to favour affiliated firms.
The prosecution also alleged that Moses dishonestly misappropriated ₦3 million, said to have been collected as administrative charges on contracts awarded by ARMTI.
The ICPC further claimed that the defendant maintained active involvement in Magic Touch Business Solutions Ltd while in public service, alongside his wife, who is also reportedly a director and signatory to the company’s accounts.
In addition, one of the counts accuses him of making false statements to investigators by denying his directorship and financial dealings with the companies under investigation—claims the prosecution said are contradicted by documentary evidence.
The Commission said it would present witnesses and tender documentary exhibits to substantiate the charges during trial.
