Kaduna State House of Assembly Initiates Investigation into Ex-Governor El-Rufai's Extensive Loan Acquisitions

 

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has established a 13-member committee to investigate the financial activities, loan acquisitions, grants, and project executions spanning from 2015 to 2023 during the tenure of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

The committee has been tasked with summoning key figures who served during that period, including contractors, to elucidate the allocation and utilization of loans and grants acquired within the review period.

Initiated by Honourable Mugu Yusuf, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts and also the Deputy Minority Whip, the motion was spurred by Governor Uba Sani's remarks on March 28, 2024, regarding the state's financial status. Yusuf emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in governance, particularly concerning public funds.

Highlighting the concerning statistic of Kaduna's debt ranking second only to Lagos among the 36 states, Yusuf underscored the gravity of a situation where salary payments become challenging for the state.

The committee has been given a one-month deadline to present its findings to the House leadership.

Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Henry Marah Zachariah, clarified that the House's intent is not to accuse individuals of malfeasance but to ascertain how loans and grants received during the previous administration were utilized. He stressed that anyone failing to comply with the committee's summons would be legally compelled to appear and provide explanations.

All invitees are required to furnish the committee with relevant documents to support their testimonies.