From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC
Makurdi Zonal Directorate on Tuesday January 27, 2026 arraigned the Managing Director, Benue State Agricultural Development Company BS-ADC Donald Aorkwagh Akule over alleged diversion of N59.8 million naira before Justice R.J. Egbe of the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi,the Benue State Capital.
Donald was arraigned on eight count charges bordering on criminal breach of trust, stealing and diversion of public funds.
He was arrested on receipt of petition against him for alleged criminal breach of trust and stealing of funds belonging to the Benue State Agricultural Development Company for the supply of grains to the state government.
Investigation revealed that the MD/CEO failed to pay for the grains supplied by some contractors and diverted a substantial part of the funds for his personal use.
The monies diverted was said to be part of the N486,000,000.00 ( Four Hundred and Eighty Six Million Naira) only given to the company by the Benue Investment and Property Company, BIPC for the purpose of fish cultivation, grains purchase and warehouse renovation.
Further investigation revealed that the monies received by BS- ADC from BIPC for the purchase of grains, part of which he diverted directly to his private account.
Count One reads: that you Donald Aorkwagh Akule (while in your capacity as the Managing Director of Benue State Agricultural Development Company BS-ADC sometime in 2024 and 2025 in Makurdi, Benue State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did confer a corrupt advantage on Udeco Engineering Company, a company owned by your friend Henry Ogbu Ude by awarding contracts for the construction of perimeter fencing gate house, warehouse renovation, supplies and installation of CCTV, totalling the sum of N195,820.000.00 ( One Hundred and Ninety Five Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira ) without following due process and used part of the purported contract sum of N31,969,000.00 (Thirty One Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty Nine Thousand Naira) for your benefit and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, punishable under the sane Act.
Count seven reads: that you, Donald Aorkwagh Akule ( Whilst in your capacity as Managing Director of Benue State Agricultural Development Company BS-ADC sometime on 20th December, 2025 in Makurdi, Benue State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court knowingly obtained by false pretense the sum of N14,000,000.00 ( Fourteen Million Naira) from the Benue State Investment Company which was represented to be payment for the stocking of fish and building of fish pond, which you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the samr Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and in view of his plea A.S.Idris counsel to the prosecution prayed the court for a short date for accelerated trial.
Counsel to the defendant informed the court that he had an application for bail of his client which Idris counsel to the EFCC objected to, stating that if granted the defendant will temper with evidence.
In a short ruling, the judge adjourned to Thursday 29, January 2026 for hearing of bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional Facility in Makurdi.
