EFCC Arrests Five Katsina Revenue Officials Over Alleged N1.3 Billion Fraud

Operatives of the Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have apprehended five officials from the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue over the alleged diversion of N1,294,337,676.53 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety-Four Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy-Six Naira, Fifty-Three Kobo) belonging to the Katsina State Government.

The suspects, identified as Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu, and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, were arrested following a petition from the Katsina State Government. The petition accused the officials of conspiring to divert the said funds, which were meant for the state, and had been allocated by the World Health Organization (WHO), Medicins Sans Frontiers, and the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA).

Preliminary investigations by the EFCC revealed that Rabiu Abdullahi, the former Director of Collections for the Board and now Permanent Secretary, authorized the opening of a bank account under the name “BOIRS” at Sterling Bank. Abdullahi allegedly designated Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Director of Revenue Accounts, and Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro as the sole signatories to the account. The account became the primary channel through which the funds were allegedly funneled to NADIKKO General Suppliers, a company owned by Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, who is an Assistant Director of Career Skills and Staff Welfare at the Board.

Further investigation uncovered that Nura Lawal and his company, NADIKKO, were used as the principal means to launder the stolen funds. The laundered money was traced to various bank accounts belonging to the suspects.

The accused individuals are currently being held at the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Command while investigations continue.