• Recommends suspension of two officials, investigation of others
Report of the ad hoc committee, set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate finances, loans, foreign and domestic debts, as well as contracts awarded under Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has submitted its findings, urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest him.
While presenting the report during plenary yesterday, chairman of the panel, Henry Zacharia, said most of the loans obtained under the el-Rufai’s administration were not used for the purpose for which they were meant, while in some cases, due process was not followed.
Speaker of the Assembly, Yusuf Liman, after receiving the report, said a total of N423 billion was reportedly siphoned by el-Rufai’s administration while leaving the state with huge liabilities.
The report, which was immediately adopted and its recommendations forwarded to the state governor for immediate action, said e-Rufai authorised humongous withdrawals in Naira and Dollars from the coffers, with no records of utilisation, thus denying the state of needed resources for development.
It also alleged that the ex-governor was involved in complicit activities with commissioners and heads of parastatals to defraud the state, by issuing directives to Kaduna Public Procurement Agency (KADPPA) to allegedly circumvent due process in the payment of contractors vide a letter dated June 21, 2021.
The committee, therefore, recommended the investigation and prosecution of the ex-governor and some other indicted members of his cabinet by security and anti-corruption agencies for abuse of office through the award of contracts without due process, diversion of public funds and money laundering, as well as plaguing the state into heavy debt.
The committee also recommended the immediate suspension of the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Shizer Badda, and the Chairman of the state’s Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
It also recommended a thorough investigation of some key appointees of the last administration by appropriate law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.
The committee was tasked with examining loans, grants and projects’ implementation from 2015 to 2023 when el-Rufai held sway.
