Former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai has dismissed the allegations of embezzlement and abuse of office leveled against him by the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
Grassroots Parrot had reported how the assembly adopted the report of its ad hoc committee tasked with investigating El-Rufai’s administration from May 2015 to May 2023.
The report indicted the former governor and several commissioners who served under him. The legislative arm, however, recommended their prosecution.
The House specifically alleged that N423 billion of the state’s resources were siphoned under El-Rufai’s government and asked the incumbent governor, Uba Sani, to refer the former governor and former commissioners of finance to relevant security agencies for investigation.
READ ALSO: Kaduna Assembly Indicts El-Rufai, Recommends Probe Over Funds Diversion, Money Laundering
But in his swift reaction to the allegations, the former governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye, claimed he led an honest and competent eight-year government.
The statement reads: “We are aware of news that the Kaduna State House of Assembly has adopted the report of the ad-hoc committee it asked to probe the El-Rufai government.
“We have not been provided with a copy of the report, to which we would respond robustly whenever we obtain it. We affirm the integrity of the El-Rufai government and dismiss the scandalous claims being aired as the report of the committee.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai is immensely proud of his record of governance and the legacy he left in Kaduna State. This record of consistently high performance in public and private office cannot be altered by any malicious effort to use the auspices of a state legislature for defamation and undeserved smears.
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“Many of the officials who served in the El-Rufai government appeared before the ad-hoc committee because of their confidence in the quality of their service and the rectitude with which they served Kaduna State.”
“It is sad to see such a shameful departure from any notion of decency and fairness by a state legislature. We dismiss with contempt the claims being peddled in connection with the report.
“Malam El-Rufai wishes to assure discerning Nigerians that he has served Kaduna State with integrity and to the best of his capacity, assisted by a hardworking and patriotic team.
“He complied with all extant laws in all his activities while he was governor. This jaundiced probe should be disregarded as the politically motivated hatchet job it is.”