EFCC Recovers ₦104m Unremitted Tax, Hands Funds To Niger Govt

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over ₦104m to the Niger State Government after recovering the sum from Kiara Rice Mills Limited over unremitted tax liabilities accrued between 2021 and 2024.

The recovery was carried out by the Foreign Exchange Malpractice Section of the EFCC following intelligence that the multi-billion-naira company operating in Kpatsuwa Village, Mokwa Local Government Area, had failed to remit its full tax obligations despite running profitably.

In a statement on Thursday, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said the commission received intelligence in February 2025 indicating that the company had violated federal tax laws and Niger State revenue regulations.

“Once the investigation confirmed the infractions, the Commission secured full recovery of the outstanding taxes,” the statement said.

He added that the Ilorin Zonal Directorate formally handed over the recovered sum of ₦104,091,162.46 to officials of the Niger State Government on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Ilorin Zonal Director, Ansalem Ozioko, reiterated the commission’s mandate to recover stolen or diverted public funds.

“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 urged the Niger State Government to maintain close collaboration with the Commission, stressing the importance of transparency and accountability in public financial management.

“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 added.

Receiving the recovered funds on behalf of the state, Alhaji Aminu Bawa, Group Head of Tax Operations at the Niger State Internal Revenue Service, praised the EFCC for its thorough investigation 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.

Bawa confirmed that the recovered funds would be credited into the state government’s account and deployed for critical development projects across Niger State.

Tax evasion and unremitted taxes are widely recognised as major threats to Nigeria’s fiscal stability.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service and other agencies note that the country loses billions annually to corporate tax avoidance, profit-shifting, and chronic non-compliance by both private companies and government MDAs.

To curb the trend, several state revenue agencies are partnering with the EFCC to strengthen enforcement and boost internally generated revenue.

The latest recovery underscores the growing collaboration between anti-graft agencies and state governments in safeguarding public finances.