NIGERIA: EFCC Nabs Five Katsina Internal Revenue Officials Over N1.3billion Fraud

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), The Kano Command, has arrested five officials of 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 Head of Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, stating the suspects to include Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri.

Oyewale also revealed that the suspects were arrested after the Katsina Government filed a petition, alleging the suspects of colliding and diverting the sum of N1,294,337,676.53) meant for the state from the World Health Organization, Medicins Sans Frontiers, Alliance for International Medical Action, ALIMA.

A Preliminary investigation by the Commission showed that a former Director of Collections of the Board and current Permanent Secretary of the Board, Rabiu Abdullahi, authorized the opening of a bank account in the name of ”BOIRS” at Sterling Bank. He allegedly designated Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Director of Revenue Account, and Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro as sole signatories to the account.

Investigations further revealed the account became the primary channel through which all the funds were allegedly channeled to the main beneficiary NADIKKO General Suppliers, a company owned and controlled by Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, an Assistant Director of Career Skills/Staff Welfare of the Board.

Investigations revealed that Nura Lawal and his company were used to launder the stolen funds, which were traced to various bank accounts of the suspects. The suspects are currently being detained at the Kano Zonal Command of the EFCC and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.