The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been given a 72-hour ultimatum to arrest former governor of Kaduna State,Nasir Ahmed el-Rufa’i over alleged misuse of over ₦423 billion while at the helm of affairs in the State.
The Northern Christians Accord (NCA) behind the call, in a statement issued on Thursday, noted that it was long overdue for the EFCC to arrest and probe el-Rufa’i on the alleged committal of the infraction.
Led by Gideon Jato, the group wondered why it would take the EFCC such a long time without taking action, even when series of petitions have been submitted at the national headquarters, after the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted el-Rufa’i and some key officials of his government of embezzling the sum of ₦423bn.
The Kaduna State Assembly ad-hoc committee probing the financial dealings of the eight-year administration of el-Rufa’i had in June, 2024, indicted him and some key members of his cabinet for alleged corruption in the awards of contracts and management of both domestic and foreign loans obtained by his government.
In the report submitted to the House by the chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Henry Ɗanjuma, it said that there was evidence of several cases of corruption in the running of the affairs of the Government, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, (MDAs) in Kaduna State from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023.
After adopting the report, the House recommended, amongst other things, that the Kaduna Internal Revenue Service withdraw the Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) Account domiciled at Zenith Bank as Security for ₦20,000,000,000.00 guaranteed in 2023 forthwith, and request the bank to refund all monies deducted on account of the purported illegal guarantee together with the accrued interest thereof.
The House also recommended that all the Commissioners of Finance and the Accountants-General of the State from 29th May, 2015 to 29th May, 2023 be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for thorough investigation.
Subsequently, a group under the auspices of ‘Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance’ (KCWGG), in July 2024 took petitioned to the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against el-Rufa’i and his men, over an alleged ₦423 billion fraud.
Seven months after the indictment by the State House of Assembly, and the attendant petitions to the anti-graft agencies, no action has been taken to arrest or probe the former Governor.
“We perceive this as an affront and total disregard to the rule of law, and a great insult to the sensibility of the people of Kaduna State, especially the institution of the State House of Assembly. For the EFCC and ICPC to have closed their eyes and shut their ears against the indictments, petitions and cries of Kaduna people, only means they are in support of corruption in Nigeria and as such, shielding el-Rufa’i.
“It is very glaring that the law in Nigeria is centrifugally positioned to favour some people and witch-hunt others. We remember how the EFCC was battling day and night few months ago, looking for former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, over a petition from a group in the State. However, the same EFCC has brazenly become blind, deaf and dumb over el-Rufa’i issue, despite the indictment by the House of Assembly; and having received series of petitions from various groups. Whereas, in the case of Kogi State, the Assembly did not indict the former Governor, but the EFCC went for him, arrested and arraigned him. But curiously, Kaduna is a special case that cannot be handled; because el-Rufa’i is untouchable?
“The man who was alleged to have stolen ₦80bn is already standing trial. Why is it taking EFCC and others years to prosecute a man who was indicted of stealing almost ₦500bn?
“The Northern Christians Accord is giving the EFCC and other agencies responsible for the arrest, prosecution and recovery of the ₦423bn confirmed by the Assembly to have been embezzled by el-Rufa’i, to do the needful and save themselves and the nation of this monumental embarrassment.
“Failure to do so, we shall not hesitate to create awareness about the complacency of the agencies, both within Nigeria and to the international community. We shall also mobilise our members across the 19 northern States, to march to the headquarters of EFCC and National Assembly”.
