Head of Gombe EFCC Office, Michael Wetkas handing over the nets

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Gombe Zonal Office has handed over bales of insecticide-treated mosquito nets recovered from one Sunday Ogar who had initially diverted them from the beneficiaries.

Ogar was convicted on January 30, 2019 for diverting the mosquito nets donated by the Global Fund, a Geneva-based international donor organisation, in collaboration with the Catholic Relief Service and National Malaria Elimination Programme.

While serving as an ad-hoc staff of a logistics company contracted for the distribution of 106 bales of the nets, Ogar was to distribute 92 bales, but he diverted 14 bales, containing 50 pieces each.

He was convicted by Justice Abubakar Jauro of a Gombe State High Court, and sentenced to one year in prison for “misappropriation” and two years in prison for “forgery” to run consecutively. He was, however, given an option of N50,000 and N120,000 as fine.

Head, Gombe Zonal Head Office, Michael Wetkas, while returning the nets to the beneficiaries, noted that the EFCC remained resolute in ensuring that people like Ogar faced the full wrath of the Law, and that such materials get to their intended beneficiaries.

“We urge members of the public not to relent in coming up with credible information that will assist the EFCC in the discharge of its duties,” he said.

While receiving the nets, Head of Central Medical Stores, Gombe State Ministry of Health, Pharmacist Abubakar, thanked the EFCC for its relentless efforts in the fight against corruption.

The EFCC was also commended by representatives of Malaria Consortium and that of Management Medical Sciences for Health, Gombe State and that of the Catholic Relief Service.