A group, Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance (KCWGG), has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent and Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), seeking prosecution of the ex-governor of Kaduna state, Nasir el-Rufai over alleged N423 billion fraud.

The Barr Henry Danjuma Magaji-led Kaduna State House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee’s report on sourcing and usage of domestic loans from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2003 had  indicted el-Rufai, some members of his cabinet and some of his aides, following a probe carried out by the committee to investigate the 8-year administration of the former governor.

Addressing journalists in Kaduna, chairman of KCWGG, Comrade Victor Duniya said the petitions requested for immediate arrest, investigations and prosecutions of el-Rufai and his appointees who were involved in the alleged mismanagement and of government funds during the 8 years that el-Rufai governed the state.

The group had earlier protested in large number to Kaduna state Government House, asking Governor Uba Sani to invite EFCC and other relevant security agencies to arrest and prosecute el-Rufai over the indictment.

Duniya said, “We lodged petitions at the headquarters of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the zonal office of Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Kaduna against former governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai and many members of his administration that the Kaduna State House of Assembly Ad-hoc report on sourcing and usage of domestic loans from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2003 indicted.”

Reacting to questions by newsmen on el-Rufai’s recent lawsuit against the State House of Assembly at the Federal High Court, Kaduna, claiming N1 billion damages over the probe committee report, Comrade Duniya said, “It is just a delay tactic because justice delayed is justice denied. But we will continue to voice out our protest to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done.”

On March 30th, 2024, Governor Uba Sani revealed during a town hall meeting that the state faced a substantial debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities inherited from the previous administration which he said led to over 70% of the state’s allocation being used to service the inherited debt.  The Kaduna State House of Assembly thereafter formed an ad-hoc committee to investigate the state’s financial transactions from May 29th, 2015 to May 29th, 2023.