The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over recovered funds totaling ₦837.5 million to the Katsina State Government following investigations into separate cases involving alleged diversion of public funds.
The funds were officially presented on Monday by the Kano Zonal Directorate of the EFCC during a ceremony held in Kano.
According to the commission, the recoveries stemmed from two major investigations involving alleged fraud, diversion of statutory remittances and money laundering linked to officials in Katsina State.
In the first case, the EFCC recovered ₦547,015,389 following a petition by the Katsina State Government over the alleged diversion of nearly ₦1.3 billion in statutory tax remittances.
Investigators said the funds originated from international organisations including the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and ALIMA.
The commission alleged that the funds were diverted into a private bank account by six personnel of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue Service and three bank officials.
The EFCC disclosed that 12 suspects were charged to court in connection with the matter, adding that six had already been convicted after pleading guilty, while the remaining suspects are still facing trial before the Katsina State High Court.
In a separate investigation, the commission recovered ₦290,470,000 linked to alleged fraudulent withdrawals from the Katsina State Sub-Treasury Expenditure Account.
According to the EFCC, investigations revealed that former Sub-Treasurer Sani Lawal BK and former Deputy Sub-Treasurer Saadu Maiwada allegedly diverted the funds into personal companies through unauthorised cash withdrawals.
The commission stated that no contracts were awarded and no services rendered to justify the withdrawals.
The suspects were arraigned on July 11, 2023, on charges bordering on money laundering and misappropriation of public funds before both federal and state high courts, with trial proceedings currently ongoing.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Kano Zonal Director of the EFCC, Assistant Commander Friday S. Ebelo, said the recovery demonstrated the agency’s commitment to protecting public resources and holding accountable those entrusted with managing them.
He urged the Katsina State Government to ensure the recovered funds are used for the benefit of citizens.
“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 said.
Receiving the recovered funds on behalf of the state government, Kabir Abdullahi Yantumaki thanked the EFCC for its efforts and assured that the funds would be paid into the state’s consolidated revenue account for public use.
