The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated an investigation into alleged mismanagement of N423 billion by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and key officials from his administration. The probe will also cover financial activities involving various commissioners, accountants-general, and other top officials who served from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023.
The investigation follows a petition by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and findings from an Ad-Hoc Committee of the Kaduna House of Assembly. The House committee uncovered that approximately N423,115,028,072.88 was allegedly siphoned from the state’s coffers during El-Rufai’s tenure.
A senior EFCC official confirmed the start of the investigation, stating, “We are in receipt of a petition from an NGO. We have started investigating the matters raised in the petition. The report of the Ad-Hoc Committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly is also handy. We will soon invite El-Rufai and some members of his team for interrogation.”
The House committee’s report revealed extensive financial discrepancies, including the unauthorized withdrawal of $1.4 million from the Kaduna State Economic Transformation Account. It also directed eight individuals and companies to refund N19.2 billion and 15 contractors to repay N36.4 billion for work either not done, overpayments, or diverted funds.
According to the committee, El-Rufai’s administration accumulated significant debt without due process. At the time El-Rufai assumed office, the state’s foreign loans stood at $234 million, with no domestic loan liabilities handed over. By the end of his tenure, Kaduna State’s liabilities had ballooned to N98.9 billion in domestic loans and $758.1 million in foreign loans.
The committee highlighted several irregularities, including:
- N721.7 million withdrawn from the Internally Generated Revenue account using unauthorized debit cards.
- N30 billion siphoned from the Internally Generated Revenue account by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS).
- Contracts worth N510.4 billion were awarded, but only N198.9 billion was paid to contractors, leaving a significant portion unaccounted for.
In response to these findings, the committee recommended that Governor Uba Sani take several corrective actions, including the repudiation of questionable loans and the recovery of funds from contractors and officials involved in the mismanagement.
The report stated, “The Committee has established several cases of corruption in the running of the government, ministries, departments, and agencies in Kaduna State from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023. The Governor of Kaduna State between these dates failed to exercise due diligence, leading to unwarranted and fraudulent debts and unauthorized cash withdrawals, denying the state necessary resources for development.”
The EFCC’s Special Task Force has already begun reviewing the petition and the House committee’s report, with further actions and invitations for questioning expected soon. The outcome of this probe could have significant implications for the former governor and his administration.