By Abdullahi Abubakar
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned five officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue (BOIRS) and a Bank official for allegedly diverting over N1.2 billion in public funds.
The suspects—Nura Lawal, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim Mamman, Abubakar Saidu, Rabiu Adamu Abdullahi, and Adam Alhassan Albashir, a Public Sector Relationship Manager with a bank—were arraigned on Tuesday, before Justice Musa Danladi of the Katsina State High Court.
According to the EFCC, the accused persons face a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and unlawful diversion of N1,235,330,000—funds reportedly accruing to Katsina State from international health organisations including the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières, and ALIMA.
One of the charges reads that the accused persons, acting in their official capacities between January 2022 and August 2024, conspired to convert tax payments meant for the state government to personal use.
The offence contravenes Section 58 of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State and is punishable under Section 298 of the same law.
All six defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel Musa Isah requested a trial date, while defence counsels moved separate bail applications.
Isah opposed the bail applications, but Justice Danladi, after reviewing both sides, granted each defendant bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety.
The surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and possess verifiable landed property.
The court adjourned the case to October 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
EFCC investigations revealed that Rabiu Abdullahi, a former Director of Collections and current Permanent Secretary of BOIRS, allegedly authorized the opening of a BOIRS account at Sterling Bank.
He reportedly designated Sanusi Yaro and Ibrahim Mamman as sole signatories to the account, which was allegedly used to funnel funds to NADIKKO General Suppliers—a company owned by Nura Lawal, Assistant Director of Career Skills/Staff Welfare at the Board.
The Commission further disclosed that NADIKKO and Lawal served as the main channels for laundering the diverted funds, which were traced to various bank accounts linked to the suspects.
The EFCC says it is determined to prosecute the matter to its logical conclusion.
