The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of N423 billion by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and several key members of his administration.
The probe follows revelations by the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s Ad-Hoc Committee, which uncovered significant financial irregularities during El-Rufai’s tenure from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023.
El-Rufai, along with former finance commissioners, accountants-general, and heads of key state agencies such as the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) and the Kaduna Market Development and Management Company Ltd, will soon be summoned for questioning.
The investigation will also include former managing directors of the Kaduna Roads Agency (KADRA), excluding Amina Ja’afar Ladan, who served for just one month.
The Ad-Hoc Committee’s report details extensive financial misconduct, including the siphoning of N423,115,028,072.88 from state coffers. It also noted a cumulative withdrawal of $1.4 million from the Kaduna State Economic Transformation Account.
The committee has ordered eight individuals and companies to refund N19,239,511,099.76 and recommended that 15 contractors return N36,351,126,811.65 for work either not done, overpayments, or diversions.
Despite awarding contracts worth N510,407,166,975.39 between 1999 and 2023, the El-Rufai administration paid only N198,921,880,169.04 to contractors.
Additionally, the committee found that most of the loans obtained during El-Rufai’s administration were secured without due process and were not utilized for their intended purposes.
The EFCC’s Special Task Force has been reviewing a petition from a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and the findings of the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s Ad-Hoc Committee. A top EFCC source confirmed that investigations have begun and that El-Rufai and his associates will be invited for interrogation soon.
Key findings from the committee’s report include:
– All domestic loans had been repaid by the previous administration before El-Rufai took office, but his tenure incurred liabilities of N98,912,000,000.00 in domestic loans and $758,141,699 in foreign loans.
– The total revenue received by Kaduna State from May 2015 to May 2023 amounted to N1,497,682,993.375 and $758,141,699.
– Unauthorized withdrawals amounting to N721,672,854.88 were made from the state’s IGR account using debit cards.
– N30,000,000,000.00 was siphoned from the state’s IGR account.
– Contracts worth N510,407,166,975.39 were awarded, but only N198,921,880,169.04 was paid to contractors, leaving substantial contractual liabilities.
– Significant sums were withdrawn by the Finance Commissioner and Accountant-General, totaling N4,936,916,333.00 and $1.4 million.
– The committee concluded that numerous cases of corruption and mismanagement occurred from May 2015 to May 2023, involving misuse of funds, unauthorized loans, and fraudulent contracts.
The Ad-Hoc Committee has recommended several actions to Governor Uba Sani, including repudiating questionable loans, withdrawing unauthorized revenue guarantees, and seeking refunds from contractors and individuals implicated in the financial misconduct.
The EFCC’s investigation aims to hold accountable those responsible for the alleged financial mismanagement and recover funds misappropriated during El-Rufai’s administration.
