THESHIELD Garkuwa
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A group under the auspices of Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance (KCWGG) said it has taken petitions to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) against the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai and his cohorts over alleged N423 billion fraud.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly Ad-hoc report on sourcing and usage of domestic loans from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2003 had indicted El-rufai and some members of his cabinet following a probe committee that investigated the 8-year administration of the former governor.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Chairman of KCWGG,
Comrade Victor Duniya said the petitions requested for immediate investigations, arrests, and prosecutions of El-rufai and his appointees that were involved in alleged mismanagement, siphoning, and some illegal financial and administrative activities while governed the State for eight years.
However, reacting to questions by newsmen on El-rufai’s recent lawsuit against the State House of Assembly at the Federal High Court, Kaduna, claiming N1billion damages over the probe committee report, Comrade Duniya said, “It is just a delay tactic because justice delayed is justice denied. But we will continue to voice out our protest to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done. It is unfortunate that El-rufai that never obeyed Court order as governor, he is now running to the same court to seek protection”.
According to Comrade Duniya, “Yesterday, the 2nd of July 2024, we officially lodged petitions at the headquarters of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the zonal office of Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Kaduna against the former governor of Kaduna state Mal. Nasir Ahmad El-rufai and many members of his administration that the Kaduna State House of Assembly Ad-hoc report on sourcing and usage of domestic loans from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2003 indicted.
“Our petitions requested for immediate investigations, arrests, and prosecutions of Mal. El-rufai and his appointees that were involved in mismanagement, siphoning, and many illegal financial and administrative activities contained in the report.
“Holding the former governor and those that spilled the treasury and shortchanged people’s interest accountable will deter other elected and appointed public officials from mindless looting of public treasury with impunity.
“We have absolute confidence in the capacity and determination of the anti-graft agencies in combating corruption in Nigeria”.
The same group had on June 20, 2024 protested in large number to Kaduna government House, asking governor Uba Sani to invite EFCC and other relevant security agencies to arrest and prosecute El-rufai over the indictment.
On March 30th, 2024, Governor Uba Sani revealed during a town hall meeting that the state faced a substantial debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities inherited from the previous administration which he said led to over 70% of the state’s allocation being used to service the inherited debt.
In response, the Kaduna State House of Assembly formed an ad-hoc committee to investigate the state’s financial transactions from May 29th, 2015 to May 29th, 2023. The committee, led by Barrister Henry Danjuma Magaji, submitted its findings on June 5th, 2024, revealing significant unaccounted funds and irregularities in financial transactions. The report highlighted mismanagement of funds, diversion of loans, overpayment of contractors, and lack of transparency in the usage of state funds.
