February 22, 2025

EFCC arrests five Katsina revenue officials for diverting over ₦1.29 billion

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kano Zonal Command, has arrested five officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue over the alleged diversion of ₦1,294,337,676.53 belonging to the Katsina State Government.

The suspects include Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu, and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri. Their arrest followed a petition from the Katsina State Government accusing the officials of misappropriating funds from international organizations, including the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières, and ALIMA (Alliance for International Medical Action).

Preliminary EFCC investigations revealed that Rabiu Abdullahi, the Board’s former Director of Collections and current Permanent Secretary, authorized the opening of a suspicious bank account named “BOIRS” at Sterling Bank. Sanusi Mohammed Yaro and Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro were designated as sole signatories to the account, which became a channel for funneling funds to NADIKKO General Suppliers—a company owned by Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, Assistant Director of Career Skills/Staff Welfare at the Board.

Further inquiries uncovered that NADIKKO and its proprietor, Nura Lawal, were the primary conduits for laundering the diverted funds. These illicit transactions were traced to various bank accounts linked to the suspects.

The EFCC has detained the suspects at its Kano Zonal Command, and they will face prosecution after the investigation concludes.

 

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