•Nasir El-Rufai
The Kaduna State House of Assembly has urged former political appointees of Malam Nasir El-Rufai to prepare their defence for the anti-corruption agencies and the courts.
The assembly said this while responding to the challenge by some former members of El-Rufai’s cabinet, reports Daily Trust.
At a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, some former commissioners disputed the assembly’s report which accused some of them and the former governor of misappropriating N423 billion.
The ex-commissioners outlined financial details from El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure, asserting that the assembly’s report was politically motivated and aimed at tarnishing their administration’s achievements.
They said while El-Rufai had taken legal action to enforce his fundamental human rights and was currently barred from commenting on the matter, they had stepped forward to clarify what they termed a biased report intended to damage their reputation.
But in a statement yesterday, Barrister Henry Magaji, Chairman of the Fact-Finding Committee and Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna Assembly, denounced the “attempts by the former political appointees to cover up allegations of massive looting and mismanagement of state resources during the last administration”.
According to him, the press conference by the ex commissioners was nothing more than a rehash of baseless accusations and failed to address the core issue which is the massive looting of the state’s resources.
He explained that the assembly’s investigation revealed a monumental heist disguised as project execution, uncovering poorly executed, abandoned, and imaginary projects in the state.
“We urge the former political appointees to prepare their defence for the anti-corruption agencies and the courts,” the statement read.
“The House of Assembly is not in a battle of wits with them; we have fulfilled our duty to the people of Kaduna State.”
Barrister Henry said the Assembly made it clear that it is distancing itself from the malfeasance of the previous administration, saying the probe was conducted in line with their constitutional mandate and in response to public demand.
He emphasised that they were elected representatives accountable to the people of the state, pointing out that the probe was conducted in furtherance of their oath to advance the state’s interests.
He said those attempting to denigrate the House and cover up the alleged fraud represent no one but themselves.
The Assembly is currently involved in a legal battle with Malam Nasir El-Rufai over the issue of fair hearing but refrained from commenting further due to the sub-judice nature of the case.
