In a significant boost to the fight against financial corruption in Northern Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially handed over the sum of ₦837,485,389.00 to the Katsina State Government, following successful investigations into two high-profile cases of public fund diversion.
The handover ceremony, which took place on Monday, May 18, 2026, at the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Directorate, marks a critical milestone in the Commission’s ongoing efforts to recover stolen public assets and restore them to their rightful owners.
Two Cases, One Mission: Justice Delivered
According to the EFCC, the recovered funds stem from two separate but equally damning investigations:
🔹 Case One: ₦547,015,389 Recovered
This amount was traced to the criminal diversion of nearly ₦1.3 billion in statutory tax remittances meant for Katsina State. The funds, originating from reputable international organisations—including the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and ALIMA—were allegedly siphoned into private accounts by six officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue Service (BOIRS) in collusion with three bank employees.
Twelve suspects were arraigned in connection with this case. Six have already been convicted after entering guilty pleas, while the remaining six are currently standing trial at the Katsina State High Court.
🔹 Case Two: ₦290,470,000 Recovered
Uncovered through a 2021 intelligence report, this case involved the former Sub-Treasurer, Sani Lawal BK, and former Deputy Sub-Treasurer, Saadu Maiwada, both of the Office of the Accountant General of Katsina State. The duo allegedly diverted state funds into their personal companies through unauthorised cash withdrawals—without any corresponding contracts or services rendered.
The suspects were arraigned on July 11, 2023, on charges of money laundering and misappropriation. Trials are ongoing in both Federal and State High Courts, with witnesses already testifying.
“This Money Belongs to the People”
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Assistant Commander Friday S. Ebelo, Zonal Director of the EFCC Kano Directorate, reaffirmed the Commission’s zero-tolerance stance on financial crimes.
“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,” Ebelo declared.
He commended the diligence of EFCC operatives and urged public officers across the federation to adhere strictly to due process, warning that the Commission’s surveillance net remains wide and active.
Receiving the recovered funds, Dr. Kabir Abdullahi Yantumaki, Executive Director of Standard and Compliance at the Katsina State Internal Revenue Service, expressed profound gratitude to the EFCC.
“We assure the Commission and the good people of Katsina that these funds will be properly channelled into the State’s Consolidated Revenue Account for the direct benefit of our citizens,” Yantumaki stated.
The Road Ahead
As Katsina State integrates the recovered ₦837.48 million into its consolidated revenue, civil society organisations and media outlets are expected to monitor expenditure closely. For ordinary citizens—farmers in Funtua, traders in Katsina metropolis, teachers in Daura—the true measure of success will not be in press releases, but in improved service delivery.
