Politics

JUST IN: El-Rufai to be probed for abuse of office, money laundering

The Kaduna State House of Assembly established an ad hoc committee to review all funds, loans, and contracts given under previous governor Nasir El-Rufai, and presented its findings to the House.

The chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zacharia, presented a report during plenary on Wednesday. The report found that most loans obtained under El-Rufai’s administration were not used for their intended purpose, and that due process was not followed in some cases.

Receiving the report, Yusuf Liman, Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, stated that the El-Rufai government took a total of N423 billion, leaving the state with massive obligations.

The committee, therefore, recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai, 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.

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The committee also recommended the immediate suspension of the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who also served in the same capacity under the El-Rufai’s administration,  as well the chairman of the state universal basic education board.

It also recommended thorough investigation of some key appointees of the last administration by appropriate law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.

The committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly was tasked with the assignment of examining loans, grants and projects implementation from 2015 to 2023 during which El-Rufai served as governor of the state.