Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed the report of the committee set up by the state’s House of Assembly to investigate his administration.

El-Rufai’s spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, in a statement on Wednesday, said the former governor led a government of integrity and competent governance.

“We are aware of news that the Kaduna State House of Assembly has adopted the report of the ad-hoc committee it asked to probe the El-Rufai government,” Adekeye said.

“We have not been availed a copy of the report, to which we would respond robustly whenever we obtain it.

“We affirm the integrity of the El-Rufai government and dismiss the scandalous claims being aired as the report of the committee.”

Adekeye said Malam El-Rufai is immensely proud of his record of governance and the legacy he left in Kaduna State.

He stated that this record of consistently high performance in public and private office cannot be altered by any malicious effort to use the auspices of a state legislature for defamation and undeserved smears.

According to the spokesman, many of the officials who served in the El-Rufai government appeared before the ad-hoc committee because of their confidence in the quality of their service and the rectitude which they served Kaduna State.

He added that they were under no illusion that they were participating in a fair process.

Adekeye said it was obvious that the ad hoc committee was merely going through the motions of an inquiry just to give some gloss to predetermined conclusions.

“It is sad to see such a shameful departure from any notion of decency and fairness by a state legislature,” Adekeye stated.

“We dismiss with contempt the claims being peddled in connection with the report.

“Malam El-Rufai wishes to assure discerning Nigerians that he has served Kaduna State with integrity and to the best of his capacity, assisted by a hardworking and patriotic team.

“He complied with all extant laws in all his activities while he was the governor. This jaundiced probe should be disregarded as the politically motivated hatchet job it is.”

An ad hoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly on Wednesday recommended that El-Rufai should be probed for abuse of office and money laundering during his tenure.

The committee which was set up to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under El-Rufai made this recommendation after submitting its report to the House.

Presenting the report during plenary, the chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zacharia, also called for a thorough investigation of some key appointees of the El-Rufai administration by appropriate law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.

“Most of the loans obtained under the El-Rufai 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,” Zacharia said.

The Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, after receiving the report said that a total N423 billion was siphoned by El-Rufai’s administration which left the state with heavy debts.

The committee, thereafter called for the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai alongside some other indicted members of his administration by security and anti-corruption agencies.

The committee on Wednesday also demanded the immediate suspension of the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who held the same position when El-Rufai was governor as well as the chairman of the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

The probe initiated by the Kaduna House of Assembly emerged after Governor Uba Sani accused his predecessor, El-Rufai of leaving lots of debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities.