Ahead of the end of his tenure, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), under the aegis of the Nigerian Movement for Probity and Accountability (NMP), has asked the Federal Government to commence the prosecution of the Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i over the sale of public properties when he was Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).
The group said that proceeds from sales of the properties from 2005 to 2007 was N32 billion, and that the fund however allegedly disappeared without trace.
In an issued statement yesterday by NMP’s National Coordinator, Bako Isaac, National Secretary, Ka’oje and Director of Publicity, Salisu Abdulkadir, the non-profit organisation reminded the Federal Government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies that
The CSO said it was monitoring the case while it lasted in Court until the time it was discontinued, but said time was ripe for its continuation.
It alleged that the Governor knew well the guidelines set by the Federal Executive Council in the sales of Federal Government houses, which they believed was not properly observed by el-Rufa’i at the time.
According to the group, “El-Rufa’i at the time understood succinctly that the Federal Executive Council under the former President and Commander-in-Chief, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo approved guidelines for the sale of Federal Government properties in the FCT which the transaction under the Nasir el-Rufa’i was questionable.
“With regards to remitting the sum of N32 billion into the coffers of the Federal Government at the time, Nigerians need to know.
The group said, Court ruling was at the backdrop of el-Rufa’i’s spirited and audacious move to stop the EFCC from investigating and prosecuting him over the proceeds of sales of the Federal Government Houses in the FCT when he held sway as Minister.
The NMP recalled that, while the economic crimes investigation was progressing, the governor rushed to the Court through the Suit: FHC/ABJ/CS/60/09 seeking the court’s determination whether, as the then minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he had complied with the guidelines approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the sale of Federal Government Houses between May 2005 and May 2007.
The NMP insisted that the matter should not be swept under the carpet, particularly that the accused will hand over as governor of Kaduna State on 29th of this May, and will not be covered by immunity anymore, adding that el-Rufa’i should cooperate the EFCC to prove his innocence as he would want the nation to believe.
