Probe: El-Rufai, Ex-commissioners Mishandled N423 billion – Kaduna Assembly

The State House of Assembly said Monday that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and his associates misappropriated N423 billion over a period of eight years.

It demanded that the former governor and his appointees be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for making unlawful cash withdrawals in dollars and naira.

It claimed that loans were obtained without proper documentation and that account withdrawals were made without obeying the law.

The former governor, however, called the report "jaundiced and politically-motivated" and vowed to "respond roboustly" once she had access to the complete text.

The ad hoc committee's report, which looked at all of the previous governor's financial dealings, loans, and contracts, was given to the House.

The investigation accused El-Rufai as well as several of his commissioners and advisers.

The House claimed that N423 billion in state resources were syphoned under El-Rufa'i.

It directed Governor Uba Sani to report the former governor and other indicted aides to the appropriate security agencies for inquiry.

Henry Magaji Danjuma, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee and Deputy Speaker, presented the report in plenary yesterday.

According to the research, the majority of the loans received by the El-Rufai Administration were not used for the intended purpose, and in certain cases, due process was not followed.

The Speaker, Yusuf Liman, stated that the previous administration's financial operations left the state with significant obligations.

The report was adopted, and its recommendations were sent to the governor for prompt action.

One of the recommendations is that the governor immediately suspend Commissioner of Finance Shizzer Nasara Bada, who held the same position during the El-Rufai administration.

The House said that the massive withdrawals of cash in naira and dollars from the state's treasury lacked supporting records of use.

It also claimed that El-Rufa'i conspired with commissioners and leaders of parastatals to cheat the state by sending directions to the Kaduna Public Procurement Agency (KADPPA) to avoid due process in contractor payments.

According to the report, "The Governor of Kaduna State, between May 29, 2015 and May 29, 2023, as the Chief Executive Officer of the State, violated his oath of office contained in the 7th Schedule to the Constitution and failed to exercise due discretion in the administration of the state."

"He indulged in plunging the state into unwanted, unjustified and fraudulent domestic and foreign debts over and above the total loans obtained by Kaduna State from 1965 to 1999 majority of which were obtained without due process."

The House accused him of recklessly awarding contracts without adequate process or implementation, resulting in multiple abandoned projects despite payments.

The House said that certain government contractors were overpaid, while others received funds without completing the projects.

It requested that the contractors reimburse N36.3 billion to the state government, which consisted of overpayments, monies paid for work that was not completed, and funds misdirected.

The committee suggested that the incumbent Commissioner of Finance, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and Executive Secretary of the State Pension Bureau stand aside to allow for a thorough review of the ministry's and agencies' operations.

The House stated that it had proof of multiple instances of corruption in the administration of the government, ministries, departments, and agencies between May 29, 2015 and May 29, 2023.

It suggested that all finance commissioners and accountant-generals who served during this time period be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for a full investigation.

It also selected chairmen of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) from 2018 to 2023 for referral to relevant law enforcement agencies.

The Commissioner of Finance, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Executive Secretary of the State Pension Bureau, and Managing Directors of the Kaduna Market Development and Management Company Ltd. have all been asked to leave their positions.

The coordinator of the Kaduna Irrigation Programmes for Wheat Cultivation at Ruwan Sanyi, Kubau Local Government Area, in 2016 or so, will also be investigated.

The House added: "That Ms. Dolapo Popoola, the immediate past Managing Director of ALL KAPSCO, whose whereabouts are unknown, be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for an investigation into her handling of the company's affairs and the recovery of all government properties in her possession."

"That Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser to the Governor of Kaduna State on Media and Communication, be submitted to the competent law enforcement agencies for an investigation into his involvement in contracts with the Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC).

"That, all the Managing Directors of Kaduna Roads Agency (KADRA) from 11th October 2017 to November 2021 except Engineer Amina Ja'afar Ladan who only spent a month in office, be referred for in-depth investigation into their roles in the award and poor execution of contracts during their tenure, while management and senior staff of the agency be redeployed to other relevant ministries and agencies."

The House stated the finance commissioner and the Accountant General made unjustified cash withdrawals of N4,936,916,333.00 between 2019 and 2022, as well as $1.4 million from the Kaduna State Economic Transformation Account.

The House requested the return of N632,456,000.00 paid to Tulip Future Associates Ltd without a formal appointment as consultants.

According to the source, the Kaduna State Government would collect the sum of N80,000,000.00 paid to EDI-JEN CO. LTD on March 3, 2023 as imprest when he was not a government employee.

"The Ministry of Finance paid N757,426,000.00 to Sarkin Ayuka Global Resources Ltd for excess gains in the exchange of $2,600.000.00. This amount should be recovered and deposited into the Kaduna State Consolidated Revenue Fund Account."

"That the sum of N1,412,031,860.00, which the committee discovered was fraudulently paid into the MISHA Travels Agency account by the Accountant General of the State, be recovered and deposited into the Kaduna State Consolidated Revenue Fund Account.

"That the amount of N333,000,000.00 paid to ALMASS MULTI LINKS VENTURES be recovered.

"That the total amount to be refunded to the state government by the underlisted individuals is as follows: Bashir Saidu, Shizzer Nasara Bada, Tulip Future Associates Ltd, EDI-JEN CO. LTD, Sarkin Ayuka Global Resources Ltd, Misha Travels, ALMASS MULTI LINKS VENTURES, Nuren Mumeen, Damola Uzosike Chinedu. "Total: $19,239,511,099.76."

The House reported $1,400,000.00 in withdrawals from the Kaduna State Economic Transformation Account (Shizzer Nasara Bada) 23. 24.

On April 16, the Assembly passed a resolution probing the previous administration.

It read: "The Kaduna State House of Assembly at its 150th sitting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, resolved and constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate loans, financial transactions, contractual liabilities and other related matters of the government of Kaduna State from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023."

El-Rufai appointed a 13-member committee to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the state's finances.