Operatives of the Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested five officials of the Katsina State Internal Revenue Service over an alleged diversion of about N1.3 billion belonging to the state government.
The suspects identified as Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, were arrested following a petition from the state government.
Katsina state government had alleged that they colluded and diverted the said money accruing to the state from the World Health Organization, Medicins Sans Frontiers and Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA).
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.
However, a preliminary investigation by the commission revealed that Rabiu Abdullahi, a former Director of Collections of the Board and current Permanent Secretary of the Board, allegedly 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 said to have been allegedly funnelled 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 investigation further revealed that Nura Lawal and his company ”NADIKKO” became the principal conduits used to launder the stolen funds.
The laundered funds have been traced to the various bank accounts of the suspects.