A group, Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission about an alleged misappropriation of N4 bn Anchor Borrowers’ Fund meant for Ogun farmers, by the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun.

The group, in the petition dated February 20, 2019, alleged that the sum was made available to the governor in 2017 by the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide jobs for the residents, through the mass production of rice.

It alleged that Amosun staged a jamboree ceremony and set up fake rice pyramids to deceive the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, when he (Emefiele) visited the state last year.

The group further accused the governor of abandoning the project in spite of his promise to establish rice plantations in the three senatorial districts of the state.

An acknowledged copy of the petition made available to Saturday PUNCH read in part, “Two years ago, the Ogun State Government secured N4bn facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria to help Ogun farmers in boosting production of rice, via aggressive rice farming in the state. The core of the plan and purpose of the fund was to also use the facility to establish rice plantations in Ogun State and provide rice for at least 10,000 youths.

“On an inspection visit to the state early last year by the Governor of the CBN, Governor Amosun set up fake rice pyramids in Ogun State to give the impression of massive output from the rice plantations. This was well reported in the mass media.

“The governor also announced at the ceremony that rice plantations would be established in different parts of Ogun State, including Ijebu-North, East and Ogun Waterside local government areas. After that ‘photo-trick’ ceremony, nothing has been heard of Mitros rice and there is no rice plantation established with the Anchor Borrowers’ Fund anywhere in Ogun State.”

The petitioner, therefore, urged the acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, to commence investigation on the matter.

It added, “The huge sum of money involved would have gone a long way in bettering the lives of Ogun farmers , while providing jobs for our teeming unemployed youths.”

Efforts to get the reaction of state government proved abortive as calls made to the line of the Senior Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Rotimi Durojaiye, were not picked.

A text message sent to him has not been responded to as of press time. (Punch)