A group, the Kaduna Accountability Network, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission as well as other relevant security agencies to arrest and prosecute the former governor of the state, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and his collaborators indicted by the report of the House of Assembly probe committee.
The group was particularly upset that the former governor who was indicted by the House of Assembly called on his supporters to pray for his successor’s failure over his alleged misappropriation of N423 billion between May 29, 2015 and May 29, 2023.
The former governor, who met with his political associates and followers at his Alimi Road residence where he celebrated the Eid-al-Adha, had said he remained unperturbed by the ongoing probe of his administration by the House of Assembly.
El-Rufai had said that the incumbent governor “will fall like a candy after prancing.”
But on Wednesday, the Kaduna Accountability Network led by its Chairman and Secretary, Jabir Maiturare and Ayuba Isah, respectively at press conference, to go after the former governor and prosecute him and his former commissioner indicted by the House.
The Chairman urged the the former governor to keep quiet and safe his empty rhetoric and distraction.
This was as he urged the anti-corruption agencies to take prompt action on the report of the State Assembly for in-depth investigation and appropriate action to recover “our commonwealth and prosecute anyone implicated.”
He said, “we are urging the Anti-corruption Agencies to take prompt action on the report of the Kaduna State House of Assembly for in-depth investigation and appropriate action to recover our commonwealth and prosecute anyone implicated.
“As stakeholders in the development of the state, we cannot stand idle while a man who should be held accountable for the missing N423,115,028,072.88 billion from our commonwealth attempts to undermine a government that represents the will of the people and to continue take us for granted.
“We are calling on the former governor (El Rufa’i) to keep quiet and quit this empty rhetoric and distractions. The people of Kaduna are wiser and can see through your tricks, antics, and distractions.
“El Rufai should talk about the findings of the Kaduna State House of Assembly investigations in which his government was accused of reckless awards of contracts without due process, humongous withdrawals of cash both in Naira and Dollars with no records of utilization, multiplicity of abandoned projects for which billions of naira were paid to contractors for work not done, among many other findings.
“We, the people of Kaduna state vow to remain united and vigilant until every kobo stolen from our state through a mafia-style gangsterism is returned to the people.
“We commend Governor Uba Sani for his steadfastness in the face of the provocations by the former administration and its cronies.”
It would be recalled that an ad hoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday, submitted it’s report to the House.
The Committee indicated the former governor saying that most of the loans obtained under the El-Rufai’s administration between 2015 and 2023, were not used for the purpose for which they were obtained.
The Committee led by Hon. Henry Zacharia, who’s also the Deputy Speaker of the House, recommended the prosecution of El-Rufai, some other indicted members of his cabinet by security and anti-corruption agencies for abuse of office and money laundering while in office as well as plaguing Kaduna State into heavy debt.
Recall that the probe by the state Assembly was necessitated following the lamentation of the incumbent Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, that El-Rufai left him a huge debt profile.
Sani, who spoke during a town hall meeting in Kaduna, said he inherited a lean treasury, adding that he could not pay workers’ salaries.
Sani said, “Despite the huge debt burden of N587m, N85bn, and N115bn contractual liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development.
“We have conducted a thorough assessment of our situation and are sharpening our focus accordingly.”
The revelation by Sani had generated reactions from several quarters, including El-Rufai’s son, Bashir, who took to his social media handle and accused his father’s successor of shying away from his responsibility.”
