EFCC arraigns five revenue officials, bank staff over alleged N1.2bn tax diversion

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned six individuals, including five officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue and one bank staff, for allegedly diverting over N1.2 billion in public funds meant for the Katsina State Government.

A statement shared on the agency’s X handle noted that the suspects were arraigned on Tuesday, August 5, before Justice Musa Danladi of the Katsina State High Court on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and criminal diversion of public funds.

The accused, 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 alleged to have conspired to divert tax remittances totalling N1,235,330,000. The funds were said to be payments from international humanitarian organisations including the World Health Organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA).

Although all six defendants pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel Musa Isah opposed their bail applications, but Justice Danladi granted each defendant bail in the sum of N5 million, with one surety who must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and own a verifiable landed property.