Kaduna Assembly inaugurates adhoc committee to probe El-Rufai’s administration
By Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna
Kaduna State House of Assembly, has passed a resolution to probe the eight years administration of immediate past Governor of the state, Mal. Nasir El-Rufai.
The Assembly on Tuesday in a special session presided over by the Speaker, Alh. Yusuf Liman set up a 13-man legislative panel to probe all finances, loans, and contracts awarded by the El-Rufai goverment between 2015 and 2023.
The Honourable member representing Kaura constituency, Hon. Yusuf Mugu, moved the motion under matter of public importance on the floor of the House, that the loans borrowed by the former governor be investigated. He argued that there is a need for the people of the state to know the conditions attached to the loans.
“There have been uncomplimentary comments and assassination of character of the leadership of the state, which the Assembly cannot sit and watch. That is why I came up with this motion that the Speaker constitute a committee to investigate the allegations and negative comments..
“This is the only way the state can rekindle its confidence in its development partners, collaborators, and also those who give us loans and grants; failure to do this will push the indicators of the state to a situation whereby nobody will want to do business with us.”
The former Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Zailani, who also spoke on the issue, noted that he suffered during the El-Rufai administration, adding that he refused approval of some of the loans, but the governor still found his way round it.
Zailani, who is also a member representing Igabi West constituency, said, “I suffered a lot. I refused to give approval for the loans to be collected; even the then deputy speaker, Isaac Auta Zankhai was against me because I disagreed with the collection of the loans. I told the then-governor to look at the number of loans we had on hand, and he didn’t listen to me.”.
Another member, Samuel Kambai, a member representing Zangon Kataf, and Hon. Henry Zachariah Marah, a member representing the Jaba constituency, explained that the duty of the legislators is to give approval before the governor goes ahead to collect loans, but in Kaduna, the case is different.
The duo therefore urged the committee to summon the 8th and 9th Assembly Speakers, along with some members of the same assembly, to come and explain how the loans were collected and spent under the El-Rufai’s led government
The Speaker of the House, Hon. Yusuf Dahiru Liman, who presided over the plenary session, urged the ad hoc committee to invite the Speakers of the 8th and 9th assemblies and all other relevant stakeholders and agencies for investigation, while assuring the House that the matter will be properly looked into until truth prevail.
The state lawmakers also unanimously requested that the handover notes given to the current governor, Uba Sani, by the previous administration should be given to the committee so that it would guide the committee on the financial status of the State.
The 13-man committee includes Hon. Aminu Anti, representing Doka Gabasawa as the Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Mugu Kaura as the deputy Chairman, Hon. Munira Tanimu, Hon. Shehu Yunusa as members and 9 others
The panel, among others, was mandated to investigate El-Rufai’s top associate and senior counsellor on investment, Jimi Lawal.
The State Assembly also mandated the committee to invite notable personalities, including commissioners of finance, former managing directors of Kaduna markets, and commissioners of budget and planning, among others.
