The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned five revenue officials and a bank executive for allegedly misappropriating over ₦1.2 billion in public tax revenues. The funds, originally remitted to the state government by major international health organizations, were reportedly funneled into private accounts over a two-year period.

The accused—Nura Lawal, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim Mamman, Abubakar Saidu, Rabiu Adamu Abdullahi and Adam Alhassan Albashir (a First Bank official) were brought before Justice Musa Danladi at the Katsina State High Court on Tuesday, August 5.

According to EFCC investigators, the fraudulent scheme ran from January 2022 to August 2024 and involved the creation of a covert bank account ironically named “BOIRS” after the Board of Internal Revenue Services in Sterling Bank. The account was allegedly initiated by Rabiu Abdullahi, then Director of Collections and now Permanent Secretary of the Board.

The account, under the exclusive control of two senior officials, Sanusi Yaro and Ibrahim Mamman, reportedly became the main vehicle through which large sums of tax payments were diverted. The funds. contributions from World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) were intended for the Katsina government but were allegedly rerouted into NADIKKO General Suppliers, a company owned by one of the accused, Nura Lawal.

According to a statement released by thr Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lawal and his company became the central conduit for laundering the stolen funds, which were later traced across multiple personal and company accounts linked to all six suspects.

In court, the EFCC slammed the defendants with seven-count charges of conspiracy and criminal misappropriation. The charges invoked sections of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State, with each count carrying significant penalties upon conviction.

Prosecutor Musa Isah urged the court to deny bail and fast-track trial proceedings. But after hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Danladi granted each defendant bail to the tune of ₦5 million, with stringent conditions including a verifiable landed property surety residing within the court’s jurisdiction.

The trial is set to commence on October 27, 2025.

The EFCC said the case is a testament to the deep-rooted collaboration between public officials and financial institutions in siphoning public funds meant for development, especially from international donors supporting public health in Nigeria.

“This is not just theft—it’s betrayal of public trust on a global scale,” an EFCC official said, noting that the Commission is intensifying its efforts to dismantle corruption networks in state institutions.

The Commission added that the trial will be pursued with full force, and that more arrests could follow as investigations deepen.