By Eric Elezuo

For the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, now is far from the best of times as he is embroiled in a scandal that involves stealing of a whooping sum of N423 billion from the state coffers while he was governor, according to the State House of Assembly.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly had established an ad hoc committee to review all finances, loans, and contracts awarded under the immediate-past governor, and filed its findings on Wednesday, indicting the ex-governor and several of his officials for syphoning N423 billion in state funds.

The incumbent governor of the state, Uba Sani, while speaking during a town hall meeting in Kaduna, said he inherited a lean treasury, which made it difficult for him to pay workers’ salaries.

He said that, “Despite the huge debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development.”

Consequent upon the suspicion of malapproprietion of funds in the administration of El-Rufai, Governor Sani had referred the matter to the state house of Assembly, which set up a 13-man panel in April to conduct a thorough investigation of the El-Rufai government.

The panel was led by Deputy Speaker Henry Danjuma, and began work immediately, using as premise, the complaints of Governor Sani, which bordered on the inherited lean treasury, leaving him with a huge debt profile.

The panel worked with speed, and came out with a detailed report, which indicted the former governor.

While presenting the report during plenary during the week, Danjuma stated that the majority of loans secured during El-Rufai’s government were not used for the intended purpose, and that in some cases, proper process was not followed in obtaining the loans.

Receiving the report, Yusuf Liman, Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, stated that the El-Rufai administration syphoned a total of N423 billion, leaving the state with massive liabilities.

The committee’s report, which was immediately adopted and its recommendations forwarded to state Governor Sani for immediate action, alleged that El-Rufai authorised massive withdrawals of cash from the state’s coffers, both in naira and dollars, with no records of utilisation, depriving the state of critical resources for development.

It further claimed that El-Rufai was involved in collusive actions with commissioners and heads of parastatals by allegedly sending directions to the Kaduna Public Procurement Agency to avoid due process in contractor payment via a letter dated June 21, 2021.

The committee reported that certain government contractors were overpaid, while others received funds without completing the allotted jobs.

It consequently suggested that the contractors it identified restore a total sum of N36.3 billion as “funds paid for work either not done, overpayment, or diversion to the Kaduna State government.”

The committee also recommended that the current Commissioner of Finance, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, and Executive Secretary of the State Pension Bureau step aside to allow for a thorough investigation of the ministry’s and agencies’ activities.

The Assembly, in adopting the 13-man panel’s report, asked Governor Uba Sani to refer El-Rufai, his Commissioner of Finance, and other aides to competent security agencies for inquiry.

However, El-Rufai’s media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, has quickly dismissed the allegation as untrue and scandalous.’

“We are aware of news that the Kaduna State House of Assembly has adopted the report of the ad hoc committee it asked to probe the El-Rufai government.

“We have not been provided with a copy of the report, to which we will respond robustly whenever we obtain it. We affirm the integrity of the El-Rufai government and dismiss the scandalous claims being aired as the report of the committee,” Adekeye said.

In their reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State has said reports of the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s investigations on the expenditure of the immediate past administration of Elrufai had vindicated its position.

A statement issued by the party signed by the state publicity secretary, Abraham Catoh, said they had always challenged the government on certain expenses of the El-rufai government.

The PDP therefore called on the governor of the state, Sen. Uba Sani, to, as a matter of transparency and posterity, immediately invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related matters Commission (ICPC) to investigate further and recover all the monies allegedly looted by those found guilty and be prosecuted as revealed and recommended by the committee’s report.

It would be recalled that the ad-hoc committee set up to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the former governor, Mallam el-Rufai, the Kaduna State House of Assembly found him and several of his commissioners and aides wanting and asked that anti-graft agencies probe them.

The House alleged that N423bn of state resources were siphoned under the El-Rufa’i government and asked the incumbent governor to refer the former governor, former commissioners of finance and other indicted aides to relevant security agencies for investigation.

“The reports of the Kaduna State House of Assembly investigations on financial expenditure of the immediate past administration of Nasir Elrufai has vindicated the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, that has always challenged the government on certain expenses of the Elrufai government.

“The PDP wishes to call on the governor of the state, Sen. Uba Sani, to, as a matter of transparency and posterity, immediately invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Matters Commission, ICPC, to further investigate and recover all the monies looted by Nasir Elrufai and his cronies and those found guilty be prosecuted, as revealed and recommended by the Committee’s report.

“It will be recalled that earlier, governor Uba Sani had claimed that he supported and gave his consent during the application for the loan in good faith while serving as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Kaduna, taking this bold step will further exonerate him from the public scrutiny and court of public opinion.

“The PDP supports full government action towards enthroning transparency and good governance across all levels of government in the state.”

Apart from the PDP, other Nigerians, mostly of Kaduna extraction, including Senator Shehu Sani, has asked for a thorough probe of the former governor, and any person involved in the scandal.

Also lending hia voice, Constitutional Lawyer, Prof Mike Ozekhome said the former governor has a right to a fair hearing.

“…I think that whatever happens, el-Rufai must be given his right to a fair hearing. The assembly has just merely made a recommendation and told the governor to implement it,” he said.

“The governor may look at it and, and feel well, ‘this is not worth the energy at the time. Let’s face other things’.

“Others may say, ‘N423 billion they are accusing him of is not a small amount; let’s dig in.’ So, whatever the outcome would be, don’t forget that El-Rufai also has his own fundamental rights to protect. For example, he may decide to go to court to challenge the indictment itself.

“Maybe you could say he was not given a fair trial. He was never called. I don’t know whether he was called to come and defend himself.

“Was he duly invited? Was he given an opportunity to defend himself? If he was and he chose to stay back, that’s another ball game. So, because I do not have all those duties, it becomes peremptory for me to comment on it.

“You don’t indict a person by proxy. No, you don’t, particularly in a matter that has criminal connotations. You can’t do that by proxy. So, it has to be the person.”

Recall that earlier in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, El-rufai was dropped, having been given hope of making the Ministerial list. No cogent reasons have so far been given for the treatment.

But stakeholders have wondered why the battle royale, since both parties belong to the same All Progressives Congress (APC).

The coming days will unveil much about the present contest between two allies.