The Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance has urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to arrest and prosecute the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai over alleged N423 billion fraud.

The group made the demand on Wednesday while submitting a petition against El-Rufai to the ICPC.

The petition is sequel to a report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicting El-Rufai and his appointees for alleged misappropriation of loans and theft to the tune of N423 billion.

Recall that the same group had on June 20, 2024 led a protest to the Kaduna State Government House asking Governor Uba Sani to invite anti-graft agency to arrest his predecessor.

Addressing newsmen shortly after submitting their petition to the ICPC, chairman of the group, Victor Duniya, said they submitted a similar petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

Duniya argued that prosecuting El-Rufai and his cabinet members for alleged fraud would serve as a deterrent for people in public office in the state.

“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 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,” Susan said.

“Our petitions requested immediate investigations, arrests, and prosecutions of Mallam El-Rufai and his appointees who were involved in the mismanagement, siphoning, and many illegal financial and administrative activities contained in the report.

“Holding the former governor and those that pillaged the treasury and shortchanged people’s interest accountable will deter other elected and appointed public officials from mindless looting of public treasury with impunity.

“We have absolute confidence in the capacity and determination of the anti-graft agencies in combating corruption in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, El-Rufai has commenced legal action against the Assembly and the state government, seeking to dismiss the incriminating report.

He contended that the Assembly violated his rights to a fair hearing by failing to invite him to defend himself in the course of the probe leading to the report.