The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has begun investigating petitions involving high-profile individuals in Katsina, following the commencement of operations at its newly established zonal office in the state.
Katsina Zonal Director, Chinedu Ozugha, disclosed this during an interactive session with media representatives, where he introduced himself, his team, and the new office.
According to him, the Katsina Zonal Office became operational on January 7, 2026, and now oversees activities in both Katsina and Zamfara states, having been carved out of the Kano Zonal Command to improve efficiency.
Ozugha explained that the meeting with journalists was part of efforts to build a proactive working relationship ahead of the official commissioning of the office. He stressed that the fight against corruption requires the support of the media and the general public.
He noted that Katsina, like neighbouring Zamfara, faces challenges of banditry, which often involves financial transactions that may amount to money laundering—an area within the EFCC’s mandate.
The zonal director also called for cooperation from the judiciary, revealing that the state Chief Judge, Musa Danladi Abubakar, had assigned designated judges to handle EFCC cases to ensure speedy trials.
He urged journalists to enlighten the public on the presence and role of the commission in the state, noting that the EFCC is in Katsina to assist in tackling financial crimes.
Media organisations present at the meeting included the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Correspondents’ Chapel, broadcast media, and online publishers.
Speaking for the broadcast media, Lawal Attahiru Bakori advised the commission to establish a media desk for seamless engagement and to actively participate in public enlightenment programmes.
The online publishers were represented by Muhammad Danjuma Katsina, publisher of Katsina Times.
Earlier, the Editor-in-Chief of Fasaha Stream, Ahmed Abdulkadir, who introduced the media representatives, assured the commission of journalists’ cooperation and support in its anti-corruption drive.
