Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has initiated legal proceedings against the Kaduna State House of Assembly, disputing allegations that his eight-year tenure embezzled ₦432 billion and left the state with significant debt. El-Rufai’s lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Kaduna by his lawyer Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN), challenges the findings of the Assembly’s committee that accused him of corruption.
El-Rufai’s legal action seeks a court declaration that the Assembly’s report is invalid, arguing that he was not afforded a fair hearing regarding the allegations against him and his administration. The lawsuit names the Kaduna State House of Assembly, the state Attorney General, and the Commissioner of Justice as respondents.
The controversy stems from findings presented earlier in June by an ad hoc committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which examined the finances, loans, and contracts under El-Rufai’s administration. The committee’s chairman, Henry Zacharia, reported that many loans acquired during El-Rufai’s tenure were misappropriated, and proper procedures were often ignored when securing these loans. Speaker Yusuf Liman revealed that El-Rufai’s administration had misappropriated ₦423 billion, leaving the state with substantial debt.
The committee recommended that security and anti-corruption agencies investigate and prosecute El-Rufai and other implicated cabinet members for abuses, including improper contract awards, diversion of public funds, money laundering, and burdening Kaduna State with significant debt. Additionally, the committee advised the immediate suspension of Shizer Badda, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance during El-Rufai’s administration, and the chairman of the state universal basic education board.
This legal battle highlights the ongoing tension between El-Rufai and the current Kaduna State House of Assembly, as both parties seek to address the serious allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption during El-Rufai’s tenure.