Victor Ezeja
Five officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue have been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kano Zonal Command over alleged diversion of N1.294 billion belonging to the Katsina State Government.
According to a statement by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the suspects are, Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe statement said the suspects were arrested following a petition from the Katsina State government alleging that the suspects colluded and diverted the sum of N1,294,337,676.53 meant for the state from the World Health Organisation, Medicines Sans Frontiers, Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA).
Oyewale said preliminary investigation by the Commission revealed that Rabiu Abdullahi, a former Director of Collections of the Board and current Permanent Secretary of the Board authorized the opening of 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.
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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 being detained at the Kano Zonal Command of the EFCC. They will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations, the statement added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
