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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Kano Zonal Directorate, on Monday, officially handed over recovered monetary items totaling ₦837,485,389.00 to the Katsina State Government.
The handover came after separate investigations into two major cases involving the theft of public funds belonging to the state.
In the first case, the Commission recovered ₦547 million following a petition from the Katsina State Government regarding the criminal diversion of nearly ₦1.3 billion in statutory tax remittances.
The funds, which came from international organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and ALIMA, were systematically diverted to private bank accounts by six Board of Internal Revenue Service (BOIRS) personnel and three bank employees. After investigations, 12 suspects were charged to court. Six of the suspects have been convicted after pleading guilty, while the other six suspects are currently on trial at the Katsina State High Court.
In the second case, the Commission recovered ₦290 million traced to systemic fraud uncovered by a 2021 intelligence report. Investigations revealed that former Sub-Treasurer Sani Lawal BK and former Deputy Sub-Treasurer Saadu Maiwada at the Office of the Katsina State Accountant General conspired and diverted the money to his private company through unauthorized withdrawals of large amounts of cash from the Katsina State Sub-Treasury Expenditure Account. The investigation also revealed that no services were provided, nor any contract provided to guarantee the recall.
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The suspects were arraigned in court and charged on July 11, 2023 for offenses bordering on money laundering and misappropriation of funds in Federal and State Superior Courts. The trial has begun and witnesses are testifying before the court.
The handover ceremony took place at the Kano Zonal Directorate, where the Zonal Director, EFCC Assistant Commander, ACE1Friday S. Ebelo, handed over the recovered funds to Dr. Kabir Abdullahi Yantumaki, Executive Director Standards and Compliance, Katsina State Internal Revenue Service.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ebelo reiterated the Commission’s steadfast commitment to ensuring that public funds are protected and that individuals entrusted with their management are held accountable. He noted that this recovery was the result of painstaking investigative work by the hard-working officers of the Commission. He also urged the Katsina State Government to utilize the recovered funds wisely for the benefit of the citizens of Katsina State.
“This money belongs to the people of Katsina State, and I will insist that it be used for the betterment of the people of Katsina State,” he said. He urged public officials to comply with due process and warned that the EFCC would continue to track all forms of financial irregularities.
On receiving the draft, Yantumaki thanked the EFCC for its diligence and professionalism. He assured that the recovered funds would be properly channeled into the state’s consolidated revenue account for the benefit of the community.
