The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has returned ₦104,091,162.46 to the Niger State Government after recovering the funds from Kiara Rice Mills Limited.
According to the EFCC, the money represents tax liabilities the company failed to remit between 2021 and 2024.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the commission said it received intelligence in February 2025 alleging that the multi-billion-naira company, based in Kpatsuwa Village, Mokwa Local Government Area, had not fully paid its taxes despite operating profitably, in breach of both federal and state revenue laws.
Oyewale added that an investigation by the EFCC’s Foreign Exchange Malpractice Section confirmed the violations, leading to the recovery and eventual remittance of the entire sum to the Niger State Government.
“The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC has handed over the sum of N104,091,162.46 to the Niger State Government.
“The official handover took place on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the Commission’s Office, GRA, Ilorin following the successful recovery of the funds from Kiara Rice Mills Limited, located in Kpatsuwa Village, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
The recovered sum represents the company’s unremitted tax liabilities accrued between 2021 and 2024.
“The commission, in February 2025, received intelligence indicating that the multi-billion-naira company had failed to remit its full tax obligations despite operating profitably within the state – a clear violation of both federal tax laws and Niger State revenue regulations.
“Upon investigation by the Foreign Exchange Malpractice Section of the EFCC, the Commission confirmed the infractions and secured full recovery of the outstanding taxes, “ the statement partly read.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Ilorin Zonal Director, Ansalem Ozioko, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to ensuring that public funds are fully accounted for and returned to legitimate owners.
“The function of the EFCC is to prevent, investigate, and prosecute economic and financial crimes, recover what was stolen, and return it to the rightful owners. That is exactly what we are doing here today,” Olukoyede said.
He also called for sustained collaboration between the Niger State Government and the EFCC, emphasising the need for transparency, accountability, and integrity in governance.
“We urge you to continue partnering with the commission and to be ambassadors of the EFCC by reporting any act that fails the integrity test,” he said.
Receiving the recovered funds on behalf of the Niger State government, Group Head of Tax Operations at the Niger State Internal Revenue Service,Alhaji Aminu Bawa, commended the EFCC for its diligence and professionalism.
“On behalf of the Niger State Government, I wish to express our sincere appreciation to the commission for this commendable recovery effort. This development will have a direct and positive impact on the lives of our people,” he said.
He confirmed that the recovered sum would be credited into the state government’s account and deployed for developmental projects across Niger State.
Tax evasion and unremitted taxes are widely recognised as major challenges for Nigeria’s fiscal sustainability.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service and other agencies say the country loses billions of dollars every year to tax avoidance, profit-shifting and non-compliance by companies and MDAs.
Meanwhile, revenue services in some states are formally collaborating with the EFCC to strengthen enforcement and boost internally generated revenue.
