By Joe Udo
ILORIN (CONVERSEER) – The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over the sum of ₦104,091,162.46 (One Hundred and Four Million, Ninety-One Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty-Two Naira, Forty-Six Kobo) to the Niger State Government.
The official handover took place on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the Commission’s Office, GRA, Ilorin following the successful recovery of the funds from Kiara Rice Mills Limited, located in Kpatsuwa Village, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State. The recovered sum represents the company’s unremitted tax liabilities accrued between 2021 and 2024.
The Commission, in February 2025, received intelligence indicating that the multi-billion-naira company had failed to remit its full tax obligations despite operating profitably within the state – a clear violation of both federal tax laws and Niger State revenue regulations.
Upon investigation by the Foreign Exchange Malpractice Section of the EFCC, the Commission confirmed the infractions and secured full recovery of the outstanding taxes.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Ilorin Zonal Director, Commander of the EFCC, CE Ansalem Ozioko, PhD, reaffirmed the Commission’s resolve to ensure that public funds are duly accounted for and returned to legitimate owners.
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“The function of the EFCC is to prevent, investigate, and prosecute economic and financial crimes, recover what was stolen, and return it to the rightful owners. That is exactly what we are doing here today,” Olukoyede said.
He also called for sustained collaboration between the Niger State Government and the EFCC, emphasising the need for transparency, accountability, and integrity in governance.
“We urge you to continue partnering with the Commission and to be ambassadors of the EFCC by reporting any act that fails the integrity test,” he said.
Receiving the recovered funds on behalf of the Niger State Government, Alhaji Aminu Bawa, Group Head of Tax Operations at the Niger State Internal Revenue Service, commended the EFCC for its diligence and professionalism.
“On behalf of the Niger State Government, I wish to express our sincere appreciation to the Commission for this commendable recovery effort. This development will have a direct and positive impact on the lives of our people,” he said.
He confirmed that the recovered sum would be credited into the state government’s account and deployed for developmental projects across Niger State.
