Former governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai has described the call by the House of Assembly for his investigation and prosecution as politically motivated.
The assembly on Wednesday adopted a report by an ad hoc committee set up to probe all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the El-Rufai administration.
Chairman of the committee Henry Zacharia said most of the loans obtained during El-Rufai’s administration were not used for the purpose for which they were obtained, while in some cases, due process was not followed in securing the loans.
Speaker of the assembly Yusuf Liman also said that a total N423 billion was allegedly siphoned by the El-Rufai’s administration leaving the state with huge liabilities.
The assembly recommended that El-Rufai should be investigated and prosecuted by anti-corruption bodies for alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering.
The committee also recommended the immediate suspension of the commissioner of finance, Shizer Badda, who was a part of El-Rufai’s administration.
Reacting to this, El-Rufai said in a statement on Wednesday by his spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, that he served the state with integrity.
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 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 the governor. This jaundiced probe should be disregarded as the politically motivated hatchet job it is.”
