Kaduna Assembly Calls For El-Rufai’s Prosecution Over Alleged Corruption, Abuse Of Office
Just a year after he left office, the Kaduna State House of Assembly has recommended that Nasir el-Rufai, the immediate past governor of the state, be prosecuted for alleged money laundering and abuse of office.
An ad-hoc committee set up to investigate El-Rufai’s eight years in office, led by Henry Zacharia, submitted a report alleging that the former governor failed to follow due process in awarding contracts. The report also alleged that loans obtained under El-Rufai’s administration were not used for their intended purpose. The committee further recommended an investigation into the ex-governor’s abuse of power, diversion of public funds, and money laundering.
Early last month, commissioners and administrators who served under El-Rufai were grilled for nine hours by the State Assembly regarding the ongoing investigation into El-Rufai’s tenure as Governor.
Henry Danjuma, the Deputy Speaker of the House and chairman of the probe panel, claimed after the interrogation that it was successful.
“I think I’m happy that there have been honest and frank discussions between us and those who appeared before us,” Danjuma said.
There appear to be a subtle rift between Uba Sani, the present Governor of Kaduna State, and his predecessor. In March, Sani blamed the inability of the State to pay workers on the huge burden of debts left by the previous administration.
“Despite the huge debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development,” Sani said.
In response, Bashir El-Rufai, son of Nasir el-Rufai, lambasted the present administration in Kaduna for being wholly incompetent.
“These guys have realised that they are wholly incompetent, and the only way to mask the nonsense is to deflect. From a Governor who is always sleeping in Abuja to a litany of incompetent aides who were only rewarded for foolish political reasons,” he said.
