Alleged N1.29 Billion Fraud: EFCC Arrests Five State Revenue Board Officials

• The arrested officials arrested by EFCC Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu, and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri.
• Five officials from the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue allegedly diverted N1,294,337,676.53 belonging to the Katsina State Government.
• The petition alleged that the officials colluded and diverted funds accruing to the state from international organizations.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended five officials from the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue over allegations of diverting N1,294,337,676.53 belonging to the Katsina State Government.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed this in a statement on Monday.

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The arrested officials are Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu, and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri.

According to the commission, the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Command operatives arrested the suspects following a petition from the Katsina State Government.

The petition alleged that the officials colluded and diverted funds accruing to the state from international organizations, including the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Alliance for International Medical Action (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 authorised 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,” the statement reads in part.

The commission said 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.

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“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 commission said.

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