EFCC Arraigns 5 Katsina Officials, Bank Staff Over Alleged ₦1.2 Billion Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned five officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue and a bank staff member over an alleged diversion of public funds totalling ₦1.2 billion.

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—were arraigned before Justice Musa Danladi of the Katsina State High Court on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

They are facing a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and criminal diversion of ₦1,235,330,000, allegedly siphoned from tax payments made to the Katsina State Government by international health organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA).

One of the charges reads:
“That you… conspired among yourselves to commit an unlawful act, to wit: unlawfully converted to your personal use tax payments meant for the Katsina State Government, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 58 of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State and punishable under Section 298 of the same law.”

All six defendants pleaded not guilty.

Following their pleas, EFCC counsel Musa Isah requested a trial date, while defence counsels filed for bail.

The prosecution opposed the bail applications, but Justice Danladi granted each defendant bail in the sum of ₦5 million, with one reliable surety residing within the court’s jurisdiction and in possession of verifiable landed property.

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

Investigations by the EFCC revealed that Rabiu Adamu Abdullahi, then Director of Collections and now Permanent Secretary at the Board, allegedly authorised the opening of a bank account in the name “BOIRS” at Sterling Bank. Sanusi Mohammed Yaro and Ibrahim Mamman were named as sole signatories.

The account reportedly served as a conduit for diverting public funds to NADIKKO General Suppliers, a company owned by Nura Lawal, who also served as Assistant Director of Career Skills and Staff Welfare at the Board.

Further probes uncovered that Lawal and his company were central to laundering the misappropriated funds, which were traced to several personal and corporate bank accounts linked to the suspects.