PDP demands speed as Kaduna Assembly probes El-Rufai

Kaduna State House of Assembly on Tuesday, set up a fact-finding committee to probe all finances, loans and contract projects awarded during the administration of the immediate-past governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

The probe by the state Assembly comes weeks after the incumbent Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, lamented that El-Rufai left him a huge debt profile.

Sani, who spoke during a town hall meeting in Kaduna, said he inherited a lean treasury, adding that he could not pay workers’ salaries.

Sani said, “Despite the huge debt burden of N587m, N85bn, and N115bn contractual liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development.

“We have conducted a thorough assessment of our situation and are sharpening our focus accordingly.”

The revelation by Sani had generated reactions from several quarters, including El-Rufai’s son, Bashir, who took to his social media handle and accused his father’s successor of shying away from his responsibility.

Bashir accused the governor of always staying away from the state and hibernating in Abuja, instead of sitting in Kaduna to do the job he was elected for.

The controversy also led to the suspension of the Kano APC Women Leader, Maryam Suleiman, who also backed El-Rufai and tackled Governor Sani.

On Tuesday at plenary, the Kano State House of Assembly resolved to probe El-Rufai’s administration and therefore set up a fact-finding committee.

The resolution of the House was reached during a special session of the House presided over by the Speaker, Alhaji Yusuf Liman.

The member representing the Kaura constituency, Yusuf Mugu, moved the motion on the matter of public importance that the loans taken by the immediate past governor be investigated.

Mugu argued that there was a need for the people of the state to know the conditions attached to the loans.

He said, “There have been uncompleted comments and assassinations of character on 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 on them.

“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. The failure to do this will push the indicators of the state to a situation where nobody will want to do business with us.”

Also speaking on the matter, a former Speaker of the Assembly, Yusuf Zailani, said, “I suffered a lot in order not to give approval for the loan to be collected; even the then Deputy Speaker, Isaac Auta Zankhai, was against me because I disagreed with the loan to be collected. I told the then-governor to look at the number of loans we had on hand, and he didn’t listen to me.”

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, Liman, urged the ad hoc committee to invite Speakers of the 8th and 9th Assemblies and all other relevant stakeholders and agencies for investigation.

The House unanimously requested the handover notes given to Governor Sani by El-Rufai so that it would guide the committee on the financial status of the state.

The 13-man committee has Aminu Anti, representing Doka Gabasawa as the chairman; and Yusuf Mugu Kaura as the Deputy Chairman.

The members include Munira Tanimu and Shehu Yunusa.

The legislative panel, among others, was mandated to investigate El-Rufai’s top associate and Senior Counsellor on Investment, Jimi Lawal.

The panel, according to the House, would probe financial dealings, loans and grants, and other project implementation from 2015 to 2023.

The State Assembly also mandated the committee to invite notable personalities, including the former speakers of the 8th and 9th Assembly, Commissioners of Finance, former Managing Directors of Kaduna Markets, and Commissioners of Budget and Planning, among others.

The Assembly tasked the committee to investigate the former governor’s top associate and Senior Counselor on Investment, Jimi Lawal.

Besides, the panel would probe financial dealings, loans and grants and other project implementation from 2015 to 2023.

The State Assembly also mandated the committee to invite notable personalities, including the Speakers of the 8th and 9th Assembly, Commissioners of Finance, former Managing Directors of Kaduna Markets, and Commissioners of Budget and Planning, among others.

Efforts to get El-rufai to react to the development proved abortive as his spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye neither took calls placed to his mobile line nor responded to a text message sent to him by our correspondent.

Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Kaduna State backed the move to probe El-Rufai.

The Chairman of the Kaduna State PDP and former Minister of Aviation, Hassan Hyat, said instead of referring El-Rufai’s case to the Assembly, Governor Sani should rather set up a commission of inquiry to fast-track the probe.

Hyat, in an interview with The PUNCH, said, “To me, it’s (Kaduna State Assembly setting up a committee to probe el-Rufai) is a delay tactic. We call on the governor to set up a judicial commission that will work with real instrumental mandates of government.

“The House of Assembly will only work and present the report to the Speaker of the House and after they have done that, it becomes a different thing altogether.

“If the government really wants to get to the root of this and if it is true that the governor wants to fight this and wants to save the state and retrieve funds that went to wrong hands illegally, let him set up a judicial commission of inquiry.”