Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday arrived at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja over ongoing investigations into alleged corruption during his tenure.
The spokesperson of the Commission, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that El-Rufai reported to the Commission’s headquarters to answer questions regarding his administration of Kaduna State.
According to the EFCC, investigators are currently questioning him.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly had earlier set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the financial dealings and contractual liabilities of El-Rufai’s government.
The chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zacharia, alleged that most of the loans obtained under El-Rufai’s administration were not used for the purposes for which they were secured, and that in some cases, due process was not followed.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Yusuf Liman, also alleged that a total of ₦423 billion was siphoned under El-Rufai’s administration, leaving the state with huge liabilities.
The committee, therefore, recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai and some members of his cabinet by security and anti-corruption agencies for alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and money laundering.
It also recommended the immediate suspension of the Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who served in the same capacity under the El-Rufai administration.
Responding to the allegations, El-Rufai’s spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, defended the integrity of the former governor’s administration and dismissed the claims as “scandalous.”
“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 with 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 to give some gloss to predetermined conclusions,” Adekeye said.
“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 served Kaduna State with integrity and to the best of his ability, assisted by a hardworking and patriotic team. He complied with all extant laws while in office. This jaundiced probe should be disregarded as the politically motivated hatchet job that it is,” he added.
The invitation comes at a time when the Federal Government has filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai over the alleged interception of communications belonging to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The government, through the Department of State Services (DSS), filed the charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to the charge sheet obtained by newsmen on Monday, the government alleged that El-Rufai admitted that he and his associates intercepted the NSA’s phone conversations.
The charge, filed at the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Judicial Division, lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as the defendant.
