Tension In Kaduna As Lawmakers Begin Probe Of El-Rufai Despite Threats, Demand Wanted Documents

There is palpable tension in Kaduna State as the State House of Assembly has started an investigation into the financial dealings of the state government during the tenure of former governor Nasir el-Rufa’i.

This development came despite allegations of threats against the lawmakers by El-Rufai’s son and loyalists who demanded that the Assembly should not proceed with the probe.

In a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Finance from the office of the clerk of the Kaduna State House of Assembly with reference LEG/S.382/VOL.II/615, the House requested the submission of memoranda and documents concerning financial transactions from 2015 to May 2023.

The letter, signed by Barr. Sakinatu Hassan Idris (Mrs.), Clerk to the Legislature stated, “The Kaduna State House of Assembly at its One Hundred and Fiftieth (150th) Sitting on Tuesday, 16th April, 2024, Resolved and Constituted an Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate Loans, Financial Transactions, Contractual Liabilities & Other Related Matters of The Government of Kaduna State from 29th May, 2015 to 29 May, 2023, in accordance with Order XVI Rule 9 of the Standing Orders and Rules of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, 2019 and Section 103, 128 & 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended).”

Additionally, the letter stated, “Accordingly, I am directed to request you to forward to the Ad-Hoc Committee Memorandum to be accompanied with the Underlisted DOCUMENTS and all other documents you consider relevant to the assignment of the Committee:-

(i) (a) Total Loans from May, 2015 to May, 2023 with the approvals of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, the Accounts into which the Loans were Lodged and draw. downs as recorded by Project Finance Managemet Unit (PFMU) & Debt Management Office (DMO).

(b) Relevant State Executive Council Minutes of meetings, Council’s Extracts and Resolutions with regards to the Loans.

(c) Payments and Outstanding Labilities to Contractors from May, 2015- May, 2023.

(d) Reports of Salaries paid to Staff from 2016-2022.

(e) Dloyd Reports on KADRIS from 2015 to 2023.

(ii) Terms, Purpose and Conditions on those Loans.

(iii) Appropriation items related to the LOANS.

(iv) All Records of payments made to all Contractors engaged by the State Government and relevant documents from May, 2015 to May, 2023 including Bank Statements.

(v) Modalities for payments of contracts.

(vi) Documents of all payments made to the contractors.

(vii) Sales of Government Houses/Properties and Accounts the proceeds were lodged and how the money was expended.”

It said that 30 copies of the memo/documents should reach the office of the Clerk to the Legislature on or before Thursday, 25th April, 2024 by 10:00 am.