…says ‘probe is jaundiced, should be disregarded as politically motivated hatchet job’
Immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed the report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly recommending his prosecution, saying it’s scandalous.
The Assembly had recommended that El-Rufai be prosecuted for abuse of office and money laundering in his administration.
Reacting to his former principal’s indictment by the ad hoc committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, El-Rufai’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, affirmed the former governor’s integrity while dismissing what he described as “scandalous claims being aired as the report of the committee.”
Adekeye said that the immediate past governor led a government of integrity and competence throughout his eight-year tenure which lasted from May 29, 2015 to May 29, 2023.
El-Rufai’s former media aide’s statement read, “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 availed 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.
“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 which they served Kaduna State.”
Adekeye noted that the ex-officials were under no illusion about participating in a fair process, as it was obvious the ad hoc committee was merely going through the motions of an inquiry to give some gloss to predetermined conclusions.
“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 the governor. This jaundiced probe should be disregarded as the politically motivated hatchet job it is,” he said.
The probe by the state Assembly became imperative following the lamentation of the incumbent governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, that El-Rufai left him with 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.
The Governor had 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.”
Governor Sani’s revelation 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.”
