From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
A 13-man legislative panel has been set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to probe all finances, loans, and contracts awarded by the immediate past Governor of the state, Malam Nasir Elrufai, between 2015 and 2023.
The resolution of the House was reached during a special session, which was presided over by the Speaker, Alh Yusuf Liman.
A member representing the Kaura constituency, Hon. Yusuf Mugu, moved the motion on the Matter of Public Importance that the loans borrowed by the former governor be investigated.
He argued that there was a need for the people of the state to know what the loans were used for.
“There have been incomplete comments and assassinations of character on the leadership of the state, which the assembly cannot sit and watch. That is why I came up with this motion that the Speaker should constitute a committee to investigate the allegations and the negative comments from them.
“This is the only way the state can rekindle its confidence in its development partners, collaborators, and also those who give us loans and grants; failure to do this will push the indicators of the state to a situation whereby nobody will want to do business with us.”
The former Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Zailani, who also spoke on the issue, noted that he suffered during the El-Rufai administration, adding that he refused to give approval to some of the loans, but that the governor still found his way.
Zailani, who is also a member representing Igabi West constituency, said, “I suffered a lot in order not to approve the loan to be collected; even the then deputy Speaker Isaac Auta Zankhai was against me because I disagreed with the loan to be collected. I told the then-governor to look at the number of loans we had on hand, and he didn’t listen to me.”9
Samuel Kambai, a member representing Zangon Kataf, and Hon. Henry Zachariah Marah, a member representing the Jaba constituency, explained that the legislators must, as condition, give approval before the governor goes ahead to collect loans, but that in Kaduna, the case is different.
The duo therefore urged the committee to summon the 8th and 9th Assembly Speakers, along with some members of the same assembly, to come and give explanations on how the loans were collected and spent.
The Speaker of the House, Hon. Yusuf Dahiru Liman, who presided over the plenary session, urged the ad hoc committee to invite the Speakers of the 8th and 9th assemblies and all other relevant stakeholders and agencies for investigation.
He assured the House that the matter will be properly looked into, saying they will give everyone the liberty to speak the truth.
The House unanimously requested to hand over notes given to Uba Sani by the previous administration so that it would guide the committee on the financial status of the State.
The 13-man committee includes Hon. Aminu Anti, representing Doka Gabasawa as the Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Mugu Kaura as the deputy Chairman, Hon. Munira Tanimu, Hon. Shehu Yunusa as members and 9 others.
In a unanimous decision, the House set up a 13-man legislative panel to look into the finances of the last government.
The panel, among others, was mandated to investigate El-Rufai’s top associate and senior counsellor on investment, Jimi Lawal.
The panel, according to the House, would probe financial dealings, loans and grants, and other project implementations from 2015 to 2023.
The State Assembly also mandated the committee to invite notable personalities, including the former speakers of the 8th and 9th Assembly, commissioners of finance, former managing directors of Kaduna markets, and commissioners of budget and planning, among others.
