Anti-graft agency recovers four years’ worth of unpaid taxes from Kiara Rice Mills, pledges deeper collaboration with state authorities on revenue protection.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has returned the sum of N104,091,162.46 to the Niger State Government after recovering the amount from Kiara Rice Mills Limited, a multi-billion-naira agro-processing company operating in Kpatsuwa Village, Mokwa Local Government Area.
According to the commission, the refund represents the company’s accumulated and unremitted tax liabilities spanning 2021 to 2024. The recovery followed intelligence obtained by the EFCC in February 2025, which indicated that the company, despite operating profitably, failed to remit its full tax obligations, an offence that breaches both federal tax laws and Niger State revenue regulations.
Following the intelligence, the EFCC’s Foreign Exchange Malpractice Section launched a detailed investigation, confirming the infractions and subsequently securing the full payment of the outstanding taxes. The recovered funds were officially handed over on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, during a ceremony held at the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Directorate.
Representing the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, the Ilorin Zonal Director, Anslem Ozioko, reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to ensure that public funds are protected and duly returned to their rightful owners.
He stated that the EFCC’s mandate goes beyond prosecution and includes safeguarding economic integrity by preventing and correcting financial misconduct.
“Our duty is to prevent, investigate, and prosecute economic and financial crimes, recover what was stolen, and return such funds to legitimate owners. That is what we are witnessing today,” Olukoyede noted.
He called for continued cooperation between the EFCC and the Niger State Government, emphasizing that strong partnerships are essential in promoting transparency, accountability, and efficient governance.
Receiving the funds on behalf of the state, Alhaji Aminu Bawa, Group Head of Tax Operations at the Niger State Internal Revenue Service, expressed gratitude for the EFCC’s commitment and professionalism. He noted that the recovered money would be immediately credited to the state’s account and channeled into development initiatives that would directly benefit the people of Niger State.
Bawa highlighted the persistent challenge tax evasion poses to Nigeria’s fiscal health, pointing out that billions are lost annually due to non-compliance, profit-shifting, and deliberate avoidance by some corporate organisations and government agencies. He added that states that collaborate more closely with anti-graft institutions are beginning to see improvements in internally generated revenue.
The recovery, he said, not only strengthens the state’s financial position but also sends a strong message on the consequences of violating tax regulations.
The EFCC reiterated its readiness to maintain strict enforcement measures, urging citizens, institutions, and state actors to report any conduct that undermines integrity in public finance management.
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