The Kaduna State House of Assembly has accused the administration of the former governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai, of embezzling N423 billion.
News About Nigeria reports that Yusuf Liman, speaker of the Assembly, said on Wednesday that the development had left the state burdened with enormous obligations.
He disclosed this while receiving a report from the Assembly’s ad hoc committee established to look into all contracts, loans, and financial transactions undertaken by El-Rufai’s administration.
Henry Zacharia, chairman of the ad hoc committee, presented the report to the Assembly.
He stated that most of the loans obtained during El-Rufai’s administration were “not used for the intended purpose” and that in certain instances, “the proper procedures were not followed in obtaining the loans.”
According to Liman, the “El-Rufai government embezzled N423 billion, leaving the state burdened with enormous obligations.”
The committee also recommended that security and anti-corruption agencies look into and prosecute El-Rufai and other indicted members of his cabinet for abusing their positions of authority by awarding contracts without following the proper procedures, diverting public funds, and money laundering.
In March, Governor Uba Sani complained about the heavy debt burden inherited from El-Rufai’s administration, making it challenging to pay workers’ salaries.
Sani said that his government inherited significant debts and contractual liabilities amounting to $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from El-Rufai’s time in office.
Reacting, Bashir El-Rufai, the son of the ex-governor, criticised Sani for allegedly neglecting his duties as governor and accused him of surrounding himself with incompetent aides.
He suggested that Sani was avoiding responsibility by blaming others for the state’s challenges.
Aisha Galadima, an ally of the former governor, also slammed Sani for the comment on the state’s finances.
She was subsequently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) but was later freed.
