Kaduna Assembly yet to report findings on El-Rufai — EFCC, ICPC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission have revealed that the Kaduna State House of Assembly was yet to report the alleged N423billion money laundering allegedly committed during the administration of former Governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai.

Recall that the state Assembly had in April set up a 13-man panel, headed by the Deputy Speaker, Henry Danjuma, to probe El-Rufai’s administration over allegations of wanton misappropriation of the state funds.

The ad-hoc committee was mandated to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the former governor.

The probe by the assembly came weeks after the incumbent governor of the state, Uba Sani, lamented that El-Rufai left him a huge debt profile.

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Sani, who spoke during a town hall meeting in Kaduna, had said, “Despite the huge debt burden of $587m, N85bn, and 115 Contractual Liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development.”

But while presenting the report during Wednesday’s plenary, Danjuma said most of the loans obtained under the El-Rufai’s 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.

Receiving the report, the Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, said that a total N423bn was siphoned by the El-Rufai’s administration while leaving the state with huge liabilities.

A copy of the report sighted by Sunday PUNCH read in part, “The Governor of Kaduna State between 29th May, 2015 to 29th May, 2023 as the Chief Executive Officer of the state breached his Oath of Office contained in the 7th Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended and failed to exercise due discretion in the administration of the state, thereby indulged in: 1. Plunging the state into unwanted, unjustified and fraudulent domestic and foreign debts over and above the total Loans obtained by Kaduna State from 1965 to 1999 and the majority of which were obtained without due process.”

The Assembly, while adopting the report of the 13-man panel, asked the incumbent Governor, Uba Sani, to refer El-Rufai, his commissioner for Finance and other aides to relevant security agencies for investigation.

But El-Rufai, in a swift reaction by his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, knocked the report, describing it as false and scandalous.

“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.

“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 clapped back.

However speaking with Sunday PUNCH on Thursday, ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, said the commission was yet to receive any petition from the state assembly over the money laundering allegations it leveled against the former governor.

Bakare said, “They made that statement, but we have received not the report; but if they bring it, we know what to do. It’s an intention. It’s still an intention, and they have not sent the report to us for investigation,”