FUNAAB ADDRESSES ALLEGATIONS OF CATTLE FRAUD

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.

According to a statememt by the Acting Head,  Directorate of Public Relations of the institution, Mr. Olasunkanmi Olajide   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 had 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