The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has handed over recovered funds totaling ₦837.5 million to the Katsina State Government following investigations into two separate cases involving diversion of public funds.
The recovered money was presented on Monday by the Kano Zonal Directorate of the commission during a ceremony held at the EFCC office in Kano.
According to the commission, ₦547,015,389 was recovered from a case involving the diversion of nearly ₦1.3 billion in statutory tax remittances belonging to Katsina State.
The funds, sourced from international organisations including World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières and ALIMA, were allegedly diverted into a private bank account by six officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue Service and three bank employees.
The EFCC said 12 suspects were arraigned in connection with the case. Six of them have already been convicted after pleading guilty, while the remaining suspects are standing trial before the Katsina State High Court.
In another case, the commission recovered ₦290,470,000 linked to alleged fraud uncovered through a 2021 intelligence report.
Investigators alleged that former Sub-Treasurer, Sani Lawal BK, and former Deputy Sub-Treasurer, Saadu Maiwada, colluded to divert funds from the Katsina State Sub-Treasury Expenditure Account into companies linked to them through unauthorized cash withdrawals.
The EFCC said investigations showed that no contracts were awarded and no services rendered to justify the withdrawals.
The suspects were arraigned on July 11, 2023, before both federal and state high courts on charges bordering on money laundering and misappropriation of funds, with trial proceedings already underway.
Presenting the recovered funds, the Kano Zonal Director of the EFCC, Friday S. Ebelo, said the recovery demonstrated the commission’s commitment to safeguarding public resources and ensuring accountability in public service.
He urged the Katsina State Government to ensure the recovered funds were used for projects that would benefit residents of the state.
“This money belongs to the people of Katsina State, and I will urge that same be used for the betterment of the people of Katsina State,” he said.
Receiving the funds on behalf of the state government, Kabir Abdullahi Yantumaki commended the EFCC for its diligence and professionalism.
Yantumaki assured that the recovered money would be remitted into the state’s consolidated revenue account for public use.
