BY Samuel Akpan
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna has asked Uba Sani, governor of the state, to invite anti-graft agencies to probe and prosecute Nasir el-Rufai, his predecessor.
In a statement released on Friday by Abraham Catoh, PDP spokesperson in the state, the opposition party commended the ad hoc committee set up by the Kaduna house of assembly to probe el-Rufai for its report on the former governor.
On Wednesday, the committee recommended the probe of el-Rufai’s administration between 2015 and 2023.
The committee accused el-Rufai of diversion of public funds and money laundering, saying most of the loans obtained by his administration were used for other purposes.
Yusuf Liman, speaker of the Kaduna assembly, said the alleged diversion of public funds and money laundering under el-Rufai 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 the majority were obtained without due process.”
El-Rufai had dismissed the report, saying the fraud allegations were “politically motivated”.
‘WE’VE BEEN VINDICATED’
The PDP stated that the committee’s report has vindicated its long-standing criticisms of “certain expenses” by el-Rufai’s administration.
“The PDP wish to call on the governor of the state, Sen.Uba Sani, to, as a matter of transparency and posterity, immediately invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC, to further investigate and recover all the monies looted by Nasir Elrufai and his cronies, and those found guilty be prosecuted, as revealed and recommended by the Committee’s report,” the statement reads.
“The party is following events as it unfold, and will always react accordingly.
“It will be recalled that earlier, Governor Uba Sani claimed that he supported and gave his consent during the application for the loan in good faith while serving as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Kaduna, taking this bold step will further exonerate him from the public scrutiny and court of public opinion.
“The PDP supports full government action towards enthroning transparency and good governance across all levels of government in the state.
“On a final note, the party wish to commend the House of Assembly and the Members of the Committee for a job well done and for standing on the good side of posterity, as history will never judge them in a bad light.”
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