The House alleged that N423billiom of the state resources was siphoned under El-Rufa’i government and asked the incumbent Governor Uba Sani to refer the former Governor and former Commissioners of Finance and other indicted aides to relevant security agencies for investigation.
Presenting the report during plenary on Wednesday, the chairman of the ad-hoc committee and Deputy Speaker of the House, Henry Magaji Danjuma, said that most of the loans obtained under the El-Rufai’s administration were not used for the purpose for which they were obtained, while in some cases, due process was not followed in securing the loans.
Receiving the report, the Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, said that a total N423 billion was siphoned by the El-Rufai’s administration while leaving the state with huge liabilities.
The Committee’s report, which was immediately adopted and its recommendations forwarded to the state Governor for immediate action said that former Governor El-Rufa’i authorized humongous withdrawals of cash both in Naira and Dollars from the state’s coffers, with no records of utilization, denying the State of the needed resources for development.
It also alleged that El-Rufa’i was involved in cmplicit activities with Commissioners and Heads of Parastatals to defraud the State, by issuing directives to the Kaduna Public Procurement Agency (KADPPA) to circumvent due process in the payment of Contractors vide letter dated 21st June, 2021.
According to the Committee, “The Governor of Kaduna State between 29th May, 2015 to 29th May, 2023 as the Chief Executive Officer of the State breached his Oath of Office contained in the 7th Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended and failed to exercise due discretion in the administration of the State thereby indulged in: 1. Plunging the State into unwanted, unjustified and fraudulent Domestic and Foreign Debts over and above the total Loans obtained by Kaduna State from 1965 to 1999 and majority of which were obtained without due process.
“Reckless awards of Contracts without due process and due execution leading to several abandoned Projects despite payments. Authorised the humongous withdrawals of cash both in Naira and Dollars with no records of utilization and denied the State of the needed resources for development.
“Complicit activities with Commissioners and Heads of Parastatals to defraud the State by issuing directives to KADPPA to circumvent due process in the payment of Contractors vide letter dated 21st June, 2021.
“Diversion of funds and money laundering contrary to all extant Laws and regulations and accordingly should be referred to the Law Enforcement Agencies for in-depth investigation and appropriate action,” it said.
The Committee which alleged that some government contractors were overpaid, while others collected money without executing the assigned projects, thereby recommended that, contractors it listed including; Ronchess Global Resources PLC, Chamberlayne Global Concept Ltd and M/S Prestige Integrated Services Ltd among others should refund a total sum of N36.3 billion being monies paid for work either not done, overpayment or diversion to the Kaduna State Government.
The Committee equally recommended that the current Commissioner of Finance, current Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the current Executive Secretary of the State Pension Bureau should step aside to allow for proper investigation into the activities of the Ministry and agencies.
According to the Committee Chairman, “The Committee has come to the conclusion that evidence has shown several cases of corruption in the running of the affairs of the Government, Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Kaduna State from 29th May, 2015 to 29th May, 2023 and hereby recommends as follows:-1. To direct the Kaduna Internal Revenue Service to withdraw the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Account domiciled at Zenith Bank as Security for #20,000,000,000.00 guaranteed in 2023 forthwith and to request the bank to refund all monies deducted on account of the purported illegal guarantee together with the accrued interest thereof.
“That, all the Commissioners of Finance of the State from 29th May, 2015 to 29th May, 2023 be referred to the appropriate Law Enforcement Agencies for thorough investigation.
“That, all the Accountant Generals of the State from 29th May, 2015 to 29th May, 2023 be referred to the appropriate Law Enforcement Agencies for investigation.
“That, the Chairmen of Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) from 2018 to 2023 be referred to the appropriate Law Enforcement Agencies for thorough investigation.
“That, the current Commissioner of Finance, Kaduna State do step aside to allow for proper investigation into the activities of the Ministry from 29th May, 2015 to 29* May, 2023.
“That, the current Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) do step aside to allow for thorough and proper investigation into the activities of the Board from 29th May, 2015 to 29* May, 2023.
“That, the current Executive Secretary of the State Pension Bureau do step aside to allow for proper investigation into the activities of the Bureau from 29th May, 2015 to 29* May, 2023.
“That, all the Managing Directors of the Kaduna Market Development and Management Company Ltd from 29 May, 2015 to 29th May, 2023 be referred to the relevant Law Enforcement Agencies for a thorough investigation into their handling of the affairs of the Company.
“That, the coordinator of the Kaduna State Government’s Irrigation Programmes for the cultivation of Wheat at Ruwan Sanyi, Kubau Local Government Area in 2016 or thereabout, be referred to the appropriate Law Enforcement Agencies for a thorough investigation.
“That, Ms. Dolapo Popoola, the immediate past Managing Director of AlL KAPSCO whose where about is not known, be referred to the appropriate Law Enforcement Agencies for investigation into her handling of the affairs of the Company and for the recovery of all Government Properties in her possession.
“That, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Kaduna .. State on Media and Communication from 29th May, 2015 to 29th May, 2023 be referred to the appropriate Law Enforcement Agencies for investigation on his involvement in the contracts in Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC).
“That, all the Managing Directors of Kaduna Roads Agency (KADRA) from 11th October, 2017 to November, 2021 with the exception of Engineer Amina Ja’afar Ladan who only spent a month in office, be referred to the appropriate Law Enforcement Agencies for in-depth investigation into their roles in the award and poor execution of contracts during their tenure, while Management and Senior Staff of the Agency be redeployed to other relevant Ministries and Agencies..
“That, all Loans (Domestic and Foreign) obtained by the Kaduna State Government between 29th May, 2015 to 29th May, 2023 and found by the Committee to have been obtained without due process are not binding on the State and the State Government should henceforth stop honouring all Limit, obligations arising from them.
“That, the Contractors listed hereunder should refund to the Kaduna State Government a total sum of A36,351,126,811.65 being monies paid for work either not done, overpayment or diversion as follows:1. Ronchess Global Resources PLC 2. Chamberlayne Global Concept Ltd 3. M/S Prestige Integrated Services Ltd AMOUNT N6,611,475,813.35 A3,566,760,185.98 N162,954,467.77 M/S Philco Nig. Ltd M/S Gulu Engineering & Technical Services Ltd CCECC Nigeria Ltd Danjiro Nigeria Ltd Rafali Nigeria Ltd Sanjo Nigeria Ltd Konstrand Nigeria Ltd Spectrum Engineering Ltd Bindigary Construction Ltd Gmorli Nigeria Ltd Shiyuma Nigeria Ltd ,Farm Track Nigeria Ltd.
“That, the unjustified cash withdrawals to the tune of N4,936,916,333.00 between 2019 to 2022 by Hon. Commissioner of Finance and the Accountant General of the State be referred to the appropriate Law enforcement Agencies for in-depth investigation and necessary action.
“That, the unjustified withdrawals of the sum of $1.4 Million USD from the Kaduna State Economic Transformation Account No. 0809009141 for the period of 30/10/2020 – 06/05/2020 be referred to the relevant Law Enforcement Agencies for in-depth investigation and appropriate action.
“That, the sum of N632,456,000.00 only paid to TULIP FUTURE ASSOCIATES LTD without official engagement as Consultants be recovered by the State _Government.
“That, the sum of A80,000,000.00 only paid to EDI-JEN CO. LTD on the 3rd of March, 2023 as IMPREST while He is not a Government Employee be recovered by the Kaduna State Government.
“That, the sum of #757,426,000.00 only paid by the Ministry of Finance into 4 Account No. 0500764182 in Sterling Bank Pl in the name of Sarkin Ayuka Global Resources Ltd being excess gains in the exchange of the sum of $2,600.000.00 USD be recovered and paid into the Kaduna State Consolidated Revenue Fund Account.
“That, the sum of N1,412,031,860.00 only which the Committee found was fraudulently paid into the Account of MISHA Travels Agency by the Accountant General of the State be recovered and paid into the Kaduna State Consolidated Revenue Fund Account.
“That, the sum of N333,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and thirty three million naira) paid to ALMASS MULTI LINKS VENTURES Account number 6249747019 FCMB be recovered.
“That, the total amount to be refunded to the State Government by the an underlisted persons is as follows: 1. Bashir Saidu; 2. Shizzer Nasara Bada; 3. Tulip Future Associates Ltd, 4. EDI-JEN CO. LTD 5.Sarkin Ayuka Global Resources Ltd 6. Misha Travels 6. ALMASS MULTI LINKS VENTURES 7. Nuren Mumeen 8. Damola Uzosike Chinedu
TOTAL $19,239,511,099.76 $1,400,000.00 USD
“Withdrawals from the Kaduna State Economic Transformation Account (Shizzer Nasara Bada) TOTAL USD $1,400,000.00 23. 24. That, Skipper Nig. Ltd having abandoned most of the Contracts awarded to the Company after collecting huge sums of money in part payment be referred to the necessary Law Enforcement Agencies for in-depth investigation and necessary action.
“That, Mr. Jimmy Lawal Senior Adviser-Counsellor to the Governor of Kaduna State from May, 29th 2015 to May to May, 29th 2023 who was saddled with the coordination of the activities of Government Ministries and Agencies albeit without any Constitutional role, abused the trust bestowed on him and used the opportunity to introduce dubious Companies to which he secured the award of several Contracts at outrageous amount and which Contracts were abandoned after payment of substantial contractual sums, diversion of funds meant for execution of Projects thereby defrauding the Kaduna State Government, be referred to the relevant Law Enforcement Agencies for thorough investigation and necessary action,” the Committee recommended.
After the adoption of the report, the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Yusuf Liman Dahiru directed the Assembly Clerk to immediately transmit the House recommendations to Governor Uba Sani and urged the Governor to implement the recommendations diligently.
