The Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance filed a formal petition with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against former governor Nasir El-Rufai on Wednesday.
The group requested that the anti-corruption bureau launch a quick investigation into El-Rufai in order to prosecute him for alleged N423 billion misappropriation.
The appeal by the group follows a report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicting El-Rufai and his appointees for alleged loan misuse and embezzlement totaling N423 billion.
El-Rufai filed a lawsuit last week against the Assembly and the state administration, seeking to overturn the embarrassing findings.
He argued that the Assembly breached his right to a fair hearing by omitting to invite him to defend himself during the investigation that led to the report.
On Wednesday, members of the Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance marched to the ICPC office on Wurno Road in Kaduna, demanding El-Rufai’s prompt arrest and investigation.
According to the Punch, on June 20, 2024, the same group protested at the Kaduna State Government House, urging Governor Uba Sani to invite anti-graft agencies to arrest his predecessor.
Addressing reporters shortly after presenting their appeal to the ICPC, the group’s chairman, Victor Duniya, stated that they had also filed a similar petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja.
Duniya opined that prosecuting El-Rufai and his cabinet members for alleged fraud would serve as a deterrent for people in public office in the state.
He said, “Yesterday, the 2nd of July 2024, we officially lodged petitions at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the zonal office of the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission Kaduna against the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-rufai, and many members of his administration that the Kaduna State House of Assembly ad hoc committee report on sourcing and usage of domestic loans from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2003 indicted.
“Our petitions requested immediate investigations, arrests, and prosecutions of Mallam El-Rufai and his appointees who were involved in the mismanagement, syphoning, and many illegal financial and administrative activities contained in the report.
“Holding the former governor and those who pillaged the treasury and shortchanged people’s interests accountable will deter other elected and appointed public officials from mindless looting of the public treasury with impunity.
“We have absolute confidence in the capacity and determination of the anti-graft agencies to combat corruption in Nigeria.”
Chronicle NG reports that an ad hoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate all finances, loans, and contracts awarded under the former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, submitted its report to the House on June 5.
The committee indicted the former governor, claiming that the majority of loans secured by El-Rufai’s administration between 2015 and 2023 were not used for their intended purpose.
