The ad hoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the administration of former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has submitted its report to the House.
THEWILL had reported that the Kaduna State House of Assembly set up the ad hoc committee with the mandate to investigate loans, grants and project implementation from 2015 to 2023, during which El-Rufai served as governor of the state.
Presenting the report during plenary on Wednesday, chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zachariah, 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 a total of N423 billion was siphoned by the El-Rufai administration while leaving the state with huge liabilities.
The committee, therefore, recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai, 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 Kaduna State into heavy debt”.
The committee also recommended the immediate suspension of the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who also served in the same capacity under El-Rufai’s administration, as well as the chairman of the state universal basic education board.
It also recommended a thorough investigation of some key appointees of the last administration by appropriate law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.
