Operatives of the Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have apprehended five officials of the Katsina State Internal Revenue Service for allegedly diverting approximately N1.3 billion belonging to the 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 alleged that the officials colluded to divert funds accrued to the state from the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA).
Currently detained at the Kano Zonal Command, the suspects will face charges upon the completion of investigations.
Preliminary findings by the EFCC indicate that Rabiu Abdullahi, a former Director of Collections and now the Permanent Secretary of the Board, allegedly approved the opening of a bank account named “BOIRS” at Sterling Bank. This account, with Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, the Director of Revenue Account, and Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro as sole signatories, was reportedly used to funnel the diverted funds.
The investigation further uncovered that the funds were funneled to NADIKKO General Suppliers, a company owned and managed by Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, an Assistant Director of Career Skills/Staff Welfare at the Board. NADIKKO and its proprietor are alleged to have been the primary conduits for laundering the stolen funds.
The EFCC has traced the laundered funds to various bank accounts belonging to the suspects as investigations continue.