The former governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai has been indicted for Money laundering and abuse of office by the house of assembly.
This is contained in the report submitted by the ad hoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the administration of El-Rufai
DAILY GIST recalls that the lawmakers had set up the ad hoc committee with the mandate to investigate loans, grants and projects implementation from 2015 to 2023, during which El-Rufai served as governor of the state.
Presenting the report during plenary on Wednesday, chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zachariah, said most of the loans obtained under the El-Rufai’s administration were not used for the purpose for which they were obtained, while in some cases, due process was not followed in securing the loans.
Receiving the report, the Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, said a total of N423 billion was siphoned by the El-Rufai’s administration, while leaving the state with huge liabilities.
The committee, therefore, recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai, some other indicted members of his cabinet by security and anti-corruption agencies for “abuse of office through the award of contracts without due process, diversion of public funds and money laundering as well as plaguing Kaduna State into heavy debt”.
The committee also recommended the immediate suspension of the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who also served in the same capacity under the El-Rufai’s administration, as well the chairman of the state universal basic education board.
It also recommended thorough investigation of some key appointees of the last administration by appropriate law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.
In March, a son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai had attacked his father’s successor, Uba Sani, over his complaint about the loans burden he inheritted from Mr El-Rufai.
Governor Sani said his administration was finding it difficult to pay workers’ salaries because of the repayment of the state’ huge debts.
The governor said the administration inherited $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from the administration of Mr El-Rufai.
In an apparent reaction to Mr Sani’s remark, the son of the former governor, Bashir El-Rufai, in a tweet on X said the governor was only trying to cover his administration’s incompetence.
Mr El-Rufai claimed that the governor had “deflected” from his responsibilities and abandoned his duty as governor.
