The Kaduna State House of Assembly today Wednesday mandated security and anti-corruption agencies to commence the investigation and prosecution of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai over the alleged misappropriation of N423 billion.
The House also recommended the same treatment and immediate suspension for the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who also served in the same capacity under El-Rufai’s administration, as well as the Chairman of the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board.
Governor Uba Sani first stirred the hornets nest when he said repayment of loans taken by his predecessor had stifled the state’s finances.
The ad hoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the former Governor made the recommendation in its report submitted to the House this morning.
Presenting the report during plenary on Wednesday, the Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Hon. Henry Zacharia, said that most of the loans obtained under the El-Rufai’s administration did not go for their intended purposes.
Additionally, Zacharia reported that in some cases, due process was violated in securing the loans.
Receiving the report, the Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, said that a total N423 billion was embezzled by the El-Rufai’s administration, in eight years that left the state with huge liabilities.
Following the recommendation of the committee, the House recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai, some other indicted members of his cabinet by security and anti-corruption agencies.
El-Rufai and the others would be charged 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.
It also recommended thorough investigation of some key appointees of the last administration by appropriate law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.
The committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly was tasked with the assignment of examining loans, grants and projects implementation from 2015 to 2023 during which El-Rufai served as Governor of the state.
