Alleged 423bn fraud: Fresh twist as K’Assembly uncovers ‘phoney contracts, ‘outright looting’ during El-Rufai’s administration
..As probe report reveals ‘litany of poorly executed projects
…Shehu Sani blasts El-Rufai’s supporters over dump sites photos
The Kaduna State House of Assembly has unearthed a staggering fraud scheme allegedly perpetrated during the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, totaling a whopping N423 billion.
The Assembly’s probe has exposed a trail of “phoney contracts” and “outright looting” that has sparked outrage and mounting pressure for accountability.
However, the Assembly has alleged a massive fraud scheme perpetuated during the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing it as a “monumental heist.”
According to the Assembly, the fraud was carried out under the guise of project execution, with political appointees attempting to cover up the alleged fraud.
In a statement issued by the Chair Fact-Feeding Committee and Deputy Speaker, Barrister Henry Magaji, the lawmakers claimed that there was a “systematic and coordinated cornering of the resources of Kaduna State through phoney contracts and outright looting.”
The statement reads, “The attention of the Kaduna State House of Assembly has been drawn to a press conference addressed by some senior political appointees of the immediate past administration of Malam Nasir El-Rufai.”
The Assembly accused the appointees of making “desperate attempts to denigrate the House and cover up the alleged fraud perpetrated by the El-Rufai government.”
The lawmakers vowed to continue investigating the alleged fraud, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. The Assembly’s statement comes after El-Rufai’s former aides held a press conference in Abuja, dismissing allegations of mismanagement and fraud.
“In the press conference, the former political appointees made strenuous efforts to pick holes in the report of the Probe Committee. They resorted to name calling and wild allegations on the motivations for the House Probe. We wish to state as follows:
“The press conference was just a rehash of the vituperation and innuendos heaped on us by the former political appointees in their first press briefing. There was nothing new that should warrant our response. They failed to address the main issue, which is the systematic and coordinated cornering of the resources of Kaduna State through phoney contracts and outright looting.
“The State House of Assembly, in line with its constitutional mandate and in response to public demand, carried out a thorough probe into the humongous debts incurred by the immediate past administration without commensurate projects. We dug deep and unearthed the monumental heist carried out in Kaduna State in the guise of projects execution. Our findings revealed a litany of poorly executed projects, abandoned projects, and projects that exists only in the imagination of executive scammers.
“We have called on anti-corruption agencies to step in and invite indicted persons for questioning. It is the anti-corruption agencies that can either validate or disprove our findings, not individuals who spent their days in public office cornering the common patrimony of the people of Kaduna State and mortgaging the future of its children and grandchildren.
“We are currently in court with the head of the indicted administration, Malam Nasir El-Rufai over the issue of fair hearing. We shall not comment on the matter because it is sub-judice. We stand for the rule of law and due process.”
Meanwhile, Former Senator Shehu Sani has criticised supporters of ex-Governor Nasir el-Rufai for posting pictures of dump sites in Kaduna, instead of addressing the alleged misappropriation of N423 billion during el-Rufai’s administration.
Sani stated, “Supporters of el-Rufai have forgotten that residents and animals drank from the same pond when he was the governor of Kaduna.”
Sani’s response came after an X user, who described el-Rufai as their mentor, posted dump site images to criticise incumbent Governor Uba Sani.
The user claimed, “Uba Sani has changed Kaduna completely since he took over as the governor of the state.” El-Rufai responded with a cryptic message, “From God we all came, and to Him we shall all return.”
The Kaduna House of Assembly has recommended probing el-Rufai, who has denied the allegations and taken legal action. Sani alleged, “The el-Rufai-led administration left huge debts and liabilities.”
The Assembly’s probe has uncovered a “systematic and coordinated cornering of the resources of Kaduna State through phoney contracts and outright looting.”
