The Kaduna State House of Assembly has begun an investigation into the administration of the immediate former Governor of the state, Nasir el-Rufai.
As a result, the Assembly is requesting documentation and specifics regarding the administration’s contract awards and spending.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the demands, seeking details of transactions from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023, focus on loans, financial transactions, contractual liabilities, and other relevant matters, as contained in a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Finance, referenced LEG/S.382/VOL.II/615.
The latest development came a week after the Kaduna Assembly set up a committee to investigate all finances, loans, and contracts awarded under the former governor.
The chairman of the House Committee on Information, Henry Zacharia, confirmed the development on Tuesday, April 16.
Zacharia said the eight-member fact-finding committee was also set up to investigate the activities of Jimi Lawal, the former governor’s senior aide and investment counsellor.
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The formation of the committee followed Governor Uba Sani’s outburst over the huge debt he allegedly inherited from El-Rufai. Sani stated that his government could not pay salaries because of the debt.
The governor claimed he inherited about $587 million and also alleged that his government inherited N85 billion and 115 contract liabilities from the previous administration.
Meanwhile, a letter signed by the Clerk of the state Assembly, Sakinatu Idris, and obtained by newsmen on Wednesday, April 24, directed the ministry to submit detailed documents on El Rufai’s tenure.
Part of the letter reads, “I am directed to request that you forward to the ad-hoc committee memorandum the under-listed documents and all other documents you consider relevant to the assignment of the committee:
“(i) (a) Total loans from May 2015 to May 2023 with the approvals of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, the accounts into which the loans were lodged and drawn as recorded by Project Finance Management Unit (PFMU) & Debt Management Office (DMO). (b) Relevant state executive council minutes of meetings, council’s extracts and resolutions with regards to the loans.
“(c) Payments and outstanding labilities to contractors from May 2015- May 2023. (d) Reports of salaries paid to staff from 2016-2022. (e) Dloyd Reports on KADRIS from 2015 to 2023.
(ii) Terms, purpose and conditions on those loans. (iii) Appropriation items related to the loans. (iv) All records of payments made to all contractors engaged by the state government and relevant documents from May 2015 to May 2023, including bank statements. (v) Modalities for payments of contracts. (vi) Documents of all payments made to the contractors. (vii) Sales of government houses/properties and accounts the proceeds were lodged and how the money was expended.