N432billion Fraud: Kaduna Ex-Governor El-Rufai Drags House Of Assembly To Court Over Damning Probe Report

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, filed a lawsuit against the Kaduna State House of Assembly on the grounds that it claimed his administration embezzled N432 billion during the course of his eight-year term, leaving the state with a large debt.

On Wednesday, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Abdulhakeem Mustapha, the former governor’s lawyer, filed a basic rights complaint at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.

The Kaduna Assembly Committee’s findings, which charged the former governor of corruption, were contested in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit asks the court to set aside the Assembly’s investigation findings, claiming that he and his administration were not given a fair hearing on the charges made against him.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly, the state’s Attorney General, and the Commissioner of Justice are among the respondents listed in the com

plaint.

The House received the results of the state Assembly’s ad hoc committee’s investigation into contracts, loans, and finances during the El-Rufai administration earlier in June.

The committee’s chairman, Henry Zacharia, raised concerns about claims that numerous loans that were received under El-Rufai’s leadership were either obtained without following the proper procedures or were misused.

Speaker Yusuf Liman claimed that during El-Rufai’s government, N423 billion was allegedly embezzled, resulting in large public obligations.

The committee suggested that security and anti-corruption organizations look into and punish El-Rufai and a few cabinet members for alleged violations, such as money laundering and the diversion of public funds.

They also recommended that El-Rufai’s Finance Commissioner, Shizer Badda, be suspended immediately.

El-Rufai’s spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye, responded by calling the committee’s allegations “scandalous” and defending the integrity of El-Rufai’s government.

El-Rufai is proud of his record as a governor, Adekeye declared, and he charged the committee of conducting a biased investigation meant to reach preconceived findings.

He accused the committee of being politically motivated and criticized them for what he saw as a betrayal of justice and decency. During his time as governor, El-Rufai served Kaduna State honorably and in accordance with all relevant laws, according to Adekeye.