Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i has taken legal action against the Kaduna State House of Assembly, disputing their claim that his eight-year tenure embezzled ?432 billion and left the State with significant debt.
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?Yesterday, el-Rufa’i filed a fundamental rights lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
The case, presented by his lawyer Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN), contests the findings of the Kaduna Assembly Committee that accused el-Rufa’i of corruption.
el-Rufa’i’s suit is seeking a court declaration that the Assembly’s report is invalid. He argues that he was not given a fair hearing regarding the allegations against him and his administration.
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?The Kaduna State House of Assembly, the state Attorney General, and the Commissioner of Justice are named as respondents in the suit.
Recall that earlier in June, the ad-hoc committee established by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to examine the finances, loans, and contracts under the former Governor delivered its findings to the Assembly. During the plenary session, the committees chairman, Henry Zacharia, reported that many loans acquired during el-Rufa’is tenure were misappropriated, and that proper procedures were often ignored when securing these loans.
Upon receiving the report, Speaker Yusuf Liman revealed that the el-Rufa’i administration had misappropriated ?423 billion, leaving the State with significant debt.
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?The committee recommended that security and anti-corruption agencies investigate and prosecute el-Rufa’i and other implicated cabinet members for abuses, including improper contract awards, diversion of public funds, money laundering, and burdening Kaduna State with substantial debt.
The committee advised the immediate suspension of the State Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who held the same position during el-Rufa’is administration as well as the chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB).
