Kaduna Assembly recommends El-Rufai’s probe for money laundering

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has recommended the prosecution of immediate past governor Nasir El-Rufai over alleged abuse of office and money laundering in his administration.

The House made the declaration on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, following the investigation of the ad-hoc committee led by Henry Zacharia.

El-Rufai served as Kaduna State Governor between 2015 and 2023.

Speaking, the Speaker of the House, Yusuf Liman, said N423 billion was siphoned during the former governor’s administration, leaving the state with huge liabilities.

According to the report submitted by Zacharia on Wednesday, most of the loans obtained during the former governor’s administration were not used for their intended purpose, and in some cases, due process was not followed in securing the loans.

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The committee, therefore, recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai alongside other indicted members of his cabinet by security and anti-corruption agencies for abuse of office through the award of contracts without due process, diversion of public funds, and money laundering.

The committee also recommended the immediate suspension of the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who also served in the same capacity under El-Rufai’s administration, as well as the chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board.

It also recommended a thorough investigation of some key appointees of the last administration by appropriate law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.

The Star