The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kano Zonal Command, has arrested five officials from the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue for allegedly diverting N1,294,337,676.53 intended for the state government. The suspects, identified as Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu, and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, were taken into custody following a petition from the Katsina State Government.
The petition accused the officials of conspiring to misappropriate funds provided by international health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA). In a statement, the EFCC revealed that Rabiu Abdullahi, a former Director of Collections and the current Permanent Secretary of the Board, allegedly authorized the opening of a bank account named “BOIRS” at Sterling Bank.
Rabiu Abdullahi appointed Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, the Director of Revenue Account, and Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro as the sole signatories to this account. According to the EFCC, this account was used as a conduit for diverting funds to a company owned by Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri. Nura Lawal, an Assistant Director in Career Skills and Staff Welfare, reportedly used his company, NADIKKO General Suppliers, to launder the stolen funds, which were then distributed across various accounts belonging to the suspects.
The EFCC confirmed that the laundered funds were traced to several bank accounts linked to the suspects. Currently, the suspects are in detention at the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Command. The commission stated that the investigation is ongoing and that the suspects will be charged in court once the investigation is concluded.
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