By Nkechi Eze
Operatives of the Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have taken five officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue into custody. The arrest is related to allegations of diverting 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 are, Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri.
A statement made available to newsmen by the commission’s spokesman states that; the arrest was prompted by a petition filed by the Katsina state government, which alleged that the five suspects conspired to divert N1,294,337,676.53 billion. The funds in question were reportedly allocated to the state by various international organizations, including the World Health Organization, Medicins Sans Frontiers, Alliance for International Medical Action, and ALIMA.
Preliminary investigation by the Commission showed that Rabiu Abdullahi, a former Director of Collections of the Board and current Permanent Secretary of the Board authorized the opening of a a bank account in the name of ”BOIRS” at Sterling bank where he allegedly designated Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Director of Revenue Account and Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro as sole signatories to the account. Subsequently, the account became the primary channel through which all the funds were allegedly funneled 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.
Investigation further revealed that Nura Lawal and his company ”NADIKKO” became the principal conduits used to launder the stolen funds. These laundered funds were traced to the various bank accounts of the suspects.
The suspects are currently in custody at the Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the completion of investigations. They will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
