By Deborah Nnamdi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned five officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue and a First Bank employee over their alleged involvement in a N1.2 billion tax fraud.
The suspects were brought before Justice Musa Danladi of the Katsina State High Court by the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Command on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and misappropriation of public funds.
According to an EFCC statement released Wednesday, the N1,235,330,000 in question was allegedly diverted from tax remittances made by international health organizations—including the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Alliance for International Medical Action—meant for the Katsina State Government.
The defendants—Nura Lawal, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim Mamman, Abubakar Saidu, Rabiu Adamu Abdullahi, and Adam Alhassan Albashir (a Public Sector Relationship Manager with First Bank)—all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
One of the charges reads: “That you… being staff of the Board of Internal Revenue Services (BOIRS), Katsina, and Public Sector Relationship Manager of First Bank… conspired among yourselves to unlawfully convert to your personal use tax payments meant for the Katsina State Government…”
Following the arraignment, EFCC counsel Musa Isah requested the court to set a trial date. Meanwhile, defence counsels filed bail applications for the accused. Justice Danladi granted bail to each defendant in the sum of N5 million, with one reliable surety residing within the court’s jurisdiction and possessing verifiable landed property.
The trial is scheduled to commence on October 27, 2025.
EFCC investigations revealed that Rabiu Abdullahi, a former Director of Collections and now Permanent Secretary at the Board, authorized the opening of a Sterling Bank account under the name “BOIRS,” with Sanusi Yaro and Ibrahim Mamman as sole signatories. The account allegedly served as the primary channel through which public funds were diverted to NADIKKO General Suppliers, a company owned by Nura Lawal.
Funds were reportedly laundered through NADIKKO and traced to multiple bank accounts linked to the suspects.
