The Kaduna State House of Assembly has called for an investigation into former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and his administration over allegations of fraud and money laundering.
This recommendation follows the submission of a detailed report by the House’s ad hoc committee, which was tasked with examining financial irregularities during El-Rufai’s tenure from 2015 to 2023.
Henry Zacharia, chairman of the ad hoc committee, presented the findings during a plenary session on Wednesday. The report alleges widespread financial misconduct, including the misuse of loans and grants, and the misallocation of funds intended for various projects.
“Most loans obtained during El-Rufai’s administration were not used for their intended purposes,” Zacharia stated.
The committee accused El-Rufai and his cabinet members of abuse of office, awarding contracts without following due process, diverting public funds, and engaging in money laundering. It also highlighted excessive borrowing, which has left Kaduna State with substantial debt.
The Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, expressed his concerns upon receiving the report.
“A total of N423 billion was siphoned by El-Rufai’s administration, leaving the state with huge liabilities,” Liman said.
The committee’s recommendations include the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai and other officials implicated in the report by security and anti-corruption agencies. It also calls for the immediate suspension of Shizer Badda, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance, and the chairman of the state universal basic education board, pending further investigation.
The report stresses the urgent need for thorough investigations into the financial activities of key appointees from the previous administration.
Governor Ubah Sani has previously highlighted the financial difficulties faced by his administration due to the substantial debts inherited from El-Rufai’s tenure. According to Sani, the state inherited $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities, which have significantly strained the state’s finances.
“Due to the rise in the exchange rate, the state is now paying back almost triple what was borrowed by the previous administration,” Governor Sani lamented.
He noted that these financial burdens have made it challenging to pay workers’ salaries and maintain essential public services.