EFCC Arraigns Katsina Revenue Officials, Banker over Alleged N1.2bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kano Zonal Command, has arraigned five senior officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue alongside a First Bank staff before Justice Musa Danladi of the Katsina State High Court on a seven-count charge of conspiracy and diversion of N1,235,330,000 belonging to the state government.

According to the EFCC, the funds—accruing from the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), and the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA)—were allegedly misappropriated between January 2022 and August 2024. The defendants named in the case are Nura Lawal, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim Mamman, Abubakar Saidu, Rabiu Adamu Abdullahi, and Adam Alhassan Albashir, a public sector relationship manager at First Bank.

Court documents reveal that the accused officials conspired to unlawfully convert tax payments meant for Katsina State, an act allegedly breaching Section 58 of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, all six defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecution counsel Musa Isah applied for a trial date, while defence lawyers sought bail for their clients. Justice Danladi granted each accused bail in the sum of N5 million, with stringent conditions, including one reliable surety residing within the court’s jurisdiction and possessing verifiable landed property.

The case was adjourned to October 27, 2025, for trial commencement.

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EFCC investigations showed that Rabiu Abdullahi, the Board’s Permanent Secretary and former Director of Collections, authorized a Sterling Bank account opened under the agency name “BOIRS.” He reportedly designated Sanusi Mohammed Yaro and Ibrahim Mamman as sole signatories. This account allegedly acted as the main channel to funnel diverted funds to NADIKKO General Suppliers—a company owned by defendant Nura Lawal, Assistant Director of Career Skills/Staff Welfare of the Board.

The anti-graft agency maintains that NADIKKO and Lawal became the principal conduits for laundering the stolen funds, with transactions traced to various accounts controlled by the suspects. The EFCC has promised to vigorously prosecute the case to its conclusion.