Daud Olatunji
In a significant development following recent allegations of missing cattle at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), the university says an implicated staff member has been questioned, investigated, and handed over to the police for a criminal investigation.
PLATFORM TIMES had exclusively reported the allegations of the missing cattle on Saturday which prompted FUNAAB to release an official statement on Sunday asserting the university’s commitment to transparency and integrity in its operations, particularly in the Cattle Production Venture (CPV).
In the statement issued and signed by Olasunkanmi Olajide, the Acting Head of the Directorate of Public Relations at FUNAAB,the university disclosed that upon reports of missing cattle, a thorough investigation was launched.
Olajide wrote that the investigation revealed that many of the stakeholders accusing the university of fraud had sidestepped official procedures and directly engaged with a staff member at the CPV.
He added that subsequently, the implicated staff member was questioned, investigated, and handed over to the police for a criminal investigation.
Olajide said further that the case is now undergoing trial in court, demonstrating FUNAAB’s dedication to addressing the matter through legal channels.
While lamenting on the attitude of the affected investors, Olajide noted that several affected stakeholders have chosen not to cooperate with the police, hindering the full investigation.
Moreover, these stakeholders have failed to appear in court as witnesses, potentially raising questions about the legitimacy of their claims.
Addressing the specific claim of missing 700 cattle, FUNAAB clarified that its CPV facilities are not equipped to house such a large number of animals simultaneously.
The university emphasised the high standards maintained in its facilities for the care and management of livestock.
He expressed the university’s commitment to its core mandates of teaching, research, and extension services.
Olajide further stated that FUNAAB values the trust and confidence of its stakeholders and remains open to constructive dialogue and collaboration to address any concerns.
The full statement “In response to recent allegations circulating online, particularly by Platform Times, concerning cattle fraud at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), we issue this statement to provide clarity and address the concerns raised.
“FUNAAB operates with integrity and upholds its tripartite mandate of teaching, research, and community engagement. As part of our community engagement initiatives in agricultural production, FUNAAB established a Cattle Production Venture (CPV).
“The CPV operates with utmost transparency and adheres to high standards of integrity in all its activities, including transparent registration, tagging, and insurance of cattle.
“FUNAAB allows external stakeholders to bring in cows from outside to raise through an open and transparent process. In this venture, many external stakeholders from Abeokuta and beyond had taken advantage of this venture, profitably.
“Upon reports of cattle losses, FUNAAB Management promptly initiated investigations and it was revealed that many of the stakeholders alleging fraud had bypassed University procedures and dealt directly with a staff member at the CPV for reasons only known to them.
“Despite this attempt to shortchange the University by many of these stakeholders, the staff was appropriately questioned, investigated, and handed over to the police for criminal investigation, as allowed by our laws.
“The case has been charged to court as appropriate, and the staff is undergoing trial in court.
“It is important to inform the public that many of the affected stakeholders involved in the issue have refused to cooperate with the police to assist in the full investigation, and have also refused to show at the court, as witnesses. This might be due to their inability to bring legitimate documents depicting that their cattle is with FUNAAB.
“Regarding the claims of missing 700 cows, we assert that our CPV facilities are designed and maintained to meet the necessary requirements for the care and management of livestock but cannot accommodate 700 animals at once.
“FUNAAB reaffirms its commitment to its core mandates of teaching, research, and extension services, aimed at advancing agricultural development for societal benefit.
“We value the trust and confidence of our stakeholders and remain open to constructive dialogue and collaboration to address any concerns.
Olasunkanmi Olajide
Ag. Head, Directorate of Public Relations
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
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