El-Rufai sues Kaduna assembly over N423bn funds diversion claim

Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, has sued the state assembly over a claim that his administration diverted N423 billion.

El-Rufai filed the fundamental rights suit through Abdulhakeem Mustapha, a senior advocate of Nigeria, at the federal high court in Kaduna.

On June 5, the Kaduna assembly recommended the probe of el-Rufai over the allegation of public funds diversion and money laundering.

The Kaduna assembly made the recommendation after a report by an ad hoc committee set up to investigate the state’s finances under the administration of el-Rufai.

El-Rufai was governor of Kaduna from 2015 to 2023.

In the suit, el-Rufai asked the court to declare the report unconstitutional, null and void for violating his right to a fair hearing.

BACKGROUND

In April, the Kaduna assembly inaugurated a 13-member committee to examine the loans, grants, and project implementation in the state during el-Rufai’s tenure.

The lawmakers said most of the loans obtained and projects implemented did not follow the “due process”.

They also called for the prosecution of some of the commissioners and officials who worked under el-Rufai.

Speaking after the submission of the report, Yusuf Liman, speaker of the Kaduna assembly, said the alleged diversion of public funds and money laundering should be referred to law enforcement agencies.

“That the governor of Kaduna state between 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023, as the chief executive officer of the state, breached his oath of office contained in the 7th schedule to the Constitution of Nigeria as amended and failed to exercise due diligence in the administration of the state,” Liman had said.

“Plunging the state into unwanted, unjustified and fraudulent domestic and foreign debt over and above the total loans obtained by Kaduna State from 1965 to 1999, from 1965 to December 31st 2014, and majority were obtained without due process.

“Reckless award of contracts without due process leading to several abandoned projects, despite payments with no record of utilisation, and denying the state of the needed resources for development.

“Diversion of funds and money laundering contrary to extant laws and regulations, and accordingly should be referred to the law enforcement agencies for immediate investigation and prosecution.”

Reporting by Samuel Akpan and Bolanle Olabimtan