Details Of Heavy Indictments Against El-Rufai As Kaduna Govt Move To Deal With Him, His Appointees
The Kaduna State House of Assembly ad-hoc committee, investigating the financial dealings of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s eight-year administration, has indicted him and key cabinet members.
The indictment bothers on alleged corruption in contract awards and the management of both domestic and foreign loans.
The report, presented by the committee chairman Henry Danjuma, cited “evidence of several cases of corruption in the running of the affairs of the Government, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in Kaduna State from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023.”
Following the adoption of the report, the House recommended that the Kaduna Internal Revenue Service withdraw the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Account from Zenith Bank, used as security for an unauthorized N20 billion guarantee in 2023, and demanded the bank refund all deducted funds with interest.
The committee also suggested referring all state finance commissioners and accountant generals from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023, to appropriate law enforcement agencies for thorough investigation. The lawmakers recommended the suspension of Finance Commissioner Shizzer Bada to facilitate proper investigation into the ministry’s activities.
The House declared that El-Rufai breached his oath of office and failed to exercise due discretion, recommending his referral to anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution for plunging the state into “unwanted, unjustified, and fraudulent domestic and foreign debts, diversion of funds, and money laundering contrary to all extant laws and regulations.”
Other recommendations included referring the chairmen of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) from 2018 to 2023, the current chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and the executive secretary of the State Pension Bureau to law enforcement for investigation. The House also suggested the investigation of managing directors of the Kaduna Market Development and Management Company Ltd and the coordinator of the state government’s wheat irrigation programs.
The committee demanded that Ms. Dolapo Popoola, the immediate past Managing Director of ALL KAPSCO, to be investigated for her handling of the company and the recovery of government properties. It also recommended investigating Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, the former Special Adviser on Media and Communication, for his involvement in contracts at the Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC).
Further, the House recommended investigating managing directors of the Kaduna Roads Agency (KADRA) from October 11, 2017, to November 2021, excluding Engineer Amina Ja’afar Ladan, who only served a month. They advised the redeployment of KADRA’s management and senior staff to other ministries and agencies.
The committee determined that all loans obtained by the Kaduna State Government between May 29, 2015, and May 29, 2023, found to have been obtained without due process, should no longer be honored by the state. Contractors were directed to refund N36,351,126,811.65 for incomplete or overpaid projects.
Lastly, the House indicted El-Rufai’s former Senior Adviser-Counsellor, Jimmy Lawal, for using his position to introduce dubious companies and secure inflated contracts, which were abandoned after significant payments. They referred him to law enforcement for thorough investigation and necessary action.
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