A former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed the State House of Assembly’s report accusing his administration of misconduct and financial impropriety as politically motivated, scandalous, and biased.
On Wednesday, El-Rufai said he led a government of integrity and competence during the eight years he governed Kaduna State, reacting through his spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye.
Persecondnews recalls that the special committee established by the State Assembly to probe financial transactions, loans, and contracts executed during the El-Rufai administration presented its report to the House during a plenary session on Wednesday.
While presenting the report, Mr. Henry Zacharia, the Chairman of the ad hoc committee, accused the El-Rufai administration of misusing loans secured between 2015 and 2023, stating that most of the funds were not utilized for their intended purposes.
Zacharia, the Deputy Speaker of the House, pointed out that the former governor’s administration sometimes did not follow due process when securing the loans.
Upon receiving the report, Mr. Yusuf Liman, the Speaker of the Assembly, revealed that the previous administration embezzled a staggering N423 billion, leaving the state burdened with significant liabilities.
The report recommended that El-Rufai, along with certain members of his cabinet, face investigation and prosecution by security and anti-corruption agencies for alleged offences, including misappropriation of public funds, money laundering, and abuse of power, which led to Kaduna State’s significant debt accumulation.”
Responding to the allegations, Adekeye affirmed the integrity of the El-Rufai government and dismissed the House report as “scandalous.”
He said:“Malam Nasir El-Rufai is immensely proud of his record of governance and the legacy he left in Kaduna State.”
Adekeye asserted that malicious attempts to use the state legislature as a tool for defamation and unjustified attacks cannot tarnish El-Rufai’s exemplary record of public and private service.
He noted that many officials from the El-Rufai administration willingly testified before the ad hoc committee, demonstrating their faith in the quality of their work and the integrity with which they served the people of 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 paddle 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 the governor.
This jaundiced probe should be disregarded as the politically motivated hatchet job it is.”
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