El-Rufai denies corruption allegations by Kaduna assembly

Nasir el-Rufai, the ex-governor of Kaduna, has claimed that the accusations of fraud brought against him by the state house of assembly are driven by political motives.

Following an investigation conducted by an ad hoc committee established by the Kaduna state house of assembly, it was recommended to probe el-Rufai’s tenure from 2015 to 2023.

The allegations against el-Rufai include misappropriation of public funds and involvement in money laundering activities.

Henry Zacharia, who serves as the chairman of the ad hoc committee, delivered the findings during a plenary session on Wednesday, stating that a significant portion of the loans acquired by el-Rufai’s administration were utilized for purposes other than those intended.

During the month of April, a 13-person committee was established by the Kaduna assembly to review the loans, grants, and execution of projects in the state while el-Rufai held office as governor.

Zacharia highlighted that a significant portion of the acquired loans and completed projects did not adhere to proper procedures.

Additionally, the legislators demanded legal action against certain commissioners and officials who served under el-Rufai’s administration.

The committee recommended the immediate suspension of Shizer Badda, the finance commissioner who also held the same position under el-Rufai’s administration.

In response, the former governor, through his spokesperson Muyiwa Adekeye, defended his tenure by stating that he led a government of integrity to the best of his abilities during his eight-year term.

He criticized the ad hoc committee’s investigation as biased and urged it to be ignored. The statement further emphasized Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s pride in his governance record and the lasting impact he made in Kaduna state.

The consistent high performance in both public and private roles remains unaltered despite attempts to tarnish it through baseless accusations in a state legislature.

Officials from the El-Rufai government willingly appeared before the ad-hoc committee, confident in their service quality and integrity while serving Kaduna state.

However, it became evident that the committee’s inquiry was merely a formality to justify preconceived judgments, lacking fairness and decency.

The claims made in the report are unfounded and should be rejected. Malam El-Rufai affirms that he served Kaduna state with honesty and dedication alongside a diligent team, adhering to all laws during his tenure as governor. This biased investigation should be disregarded for what it truly is – a politically motivated attack.