Ex-Kaduna Gov. El-Rufai faces probe for alleged abuse of office, money laundering

The Kaduna State House of Assembly received a shocking report on Wednesday that exposed widespread financial irregularities and corruption under former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s administration.

The Henry Zacharia-led ad hoc committee’s report, which exposed widespread corruption and financial mismanagement, painted a harsh picture of El-Rufai’s governance.

Persecondnews reports that the committee’s investigation exposed a startling lack of fiscal responsibility in El-Rufai’s administration and the misuse or diversion from intended purposes of many loans obtained between 2015 and 2023.

Furthermore, the committee identified instances where loans were secured without following proper procedures, suggesting a culture of financial recklessness and disregard for accountability.

The report accused El-Rufai and his cabinet members of abuse of office, awarding contracts without due process, diverting public funds, and money laundering.

Also, it lambasted the excessive borrowing that characterized El-Rufai’s tenure, which has saddled Kaduna State with an unsustainable debt burden.

The report recommended that the relevant anti-corruption and security agencies hold El-Rufai and other officials implicated in the financial mismanagement accountable through investigations and prosecutions.

Furthermore, the report urged the immediate suspension of two high-ranking officials: Shizer Badda, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance, and the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, pending further investigation into their roles in financial mismanagement.

The committee also urged thorough investigations into key appointees from the last administration.