Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, has taken legal action against the Kaduna State House of Assembly, challenging their allegations of corruption and mismanagement of ₦432 billion during his tenure.
El-Rufai filed a fundamental rights suit at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Wednesday, seeking to clear his name and contest the assembly’s claims.
The lawsuit, brought by Mr. Abdulhakeem Mustapha, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and counsel to the former governor, is contesting the findings of the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s committee, which accused him of corruption and wrongdoing, seeking to have the report declared null and void.
The suit names the Kaduna State House of Assembly assembly, the state’s Attorney General, and the Commissioner of Justice as respondents, effectively making them defendants in the case.
Persecondnews recalls that in June, the Kaduna State House of assembly received a report from a special investigative committee that examined the financial transactions, loans, and contracts authorized during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor, which led to the subsequent allegations and legal action.
Assemblyman Henry Zacharia, the chair of the investigative committee, stated that the probe discovered misuse of a significant portion of the loans obtained during El-Rufai’s tenure, as well as some instances of disregarding or ignoring the proper procedures when obtaining these loans, raising concerns about potential misconduct and mismanagement of funds.
Yusuf Liman, the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, alleged that the investigation revealed a staggering ₦423 billion was misappropriated by the El-Rufai administration, leaving the state with a significant debt burden and liabilities, which has sparked controversy and legal action.
According to the investigation’s findings, the committee called for the criminal investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai and selected members of his former cabinet by relevant security and anti-corruption agencies, specifically alleging offenses such as abuse of power, misappropriation of public funds, and money laundering.
Additionally, the committee recommended the immediate suspension of the Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who also served in the same capacity under El-Rufai’s administration.
Muyiwa Adekeye, Nasir El-Rufai’s spokesperson, vehemently defended the integrity of the former governor’s administration, categorically dismissing the committee’s allegations as “scandalous” and baseless and maintaining that El-Rufai’s government had always upheld transparency and accountability.
He said: “Malam Nasir El-Rufai is immensely proud of his record of governance and the legacy he left in Kaduna State.
“This record of consistently high performance in public and private office cannot be altered by any malicious effort to use the auspices of a state legislature for defamation and undeserved smears.
“Many of the officials who served in the El-Rufai government appeared before the ad hoc committee because of their confidence in the quality of their service and the rectitude with which they served Kaduna State.
“They were under no illusion that they were participating in a fair process. It was obvious that the ad hoc committee was merely going through the motions of an inquiry just to give some gloss to predetermined conclusions.
“It is sad to see such a shameful departure from any notion of decency and fairness by a state legislature. We dismiss with contempt the claims being peddled in connection with the report.
“Malam El-Rufai wishes to assure discerning Nigerians that he has served Kaduna State with integrity and to the best of his capacity, assisted by a hardworking and patriotic team.
“He complied with all extant laws in all his activities while he was governor. This jaundiced probe should be disregarded as the politically motivated hatchet job it is.”
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