Five officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue have been detained by the Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged misappropriation of N1,294,337,676.53.
According to the EFCC, the suspects — Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu, and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri — were arrested after a petition from the Katsina State government.
The petition alleged collusion to divert funds from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières, and Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA).
The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirming the arrests on Monday in Abuja, said, “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.”
Preliminary investigations revealed that Rabiu Abdullahi, a former Director of Collections and current Permanent Secretary of the Board, authorised the opening of a Sterling Bank account named “BOIRS.”
The account, with sole signatories Sanusi Mohammed Yaro and Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, reportedly became the channel for the funds.
The funds were allegedly funnelled to NADIKKO General Suppliers, a company owned by Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, an Assistant Director of Career Skills/Staff Welfare at the Board.
Further investigations revealed that the company and its owner were the primary conduits for laundering the stolen money, which was traced to multiple bank accounts linked to the suspects.
