Operatives of the Kano Zonal Command of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested five officials
of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue over alleged diversion of
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.
They 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) accruing to the state from the World
Health Organization, Medicins Sans Frontiers, 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 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 being detained at the Kano
Zonal Command of the EFCC
They will be charged to court upon conclusion of
investigations.
