N423bn theft: Kaduna protesters ask ICPC to arrest El-Rufai

A group, the Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance, on Wednesday, formally submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission against ex-governor Nasir El-Rufai.

The group asked the anti-corruption agency to commence an immediate probe of El-Rufai towards his prosecution for alleged  N423bn theft.

The petition by the group comes on the back of 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 N423bn.

Last week, El-Rufai commenced legal action against the Assembly and the state government, seeking to quash 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.

On Wednesday, members of the Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance marched to the ICPC office on Wurno Road, Kaduna to demand El-Rufai’s immediate arrest and probe.

The PUNCH reports 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,  the Chairman of the group, Victor Duniya, said they submitted a similar petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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.

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 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, 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.”

The PUNCH reports that 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, on June 5, submitted its report to the House.

The committee indicted the former governor, saying most of the loans obtained under the El-Rufai’s administration between 2015 and 2023, were not used for the purpose for which they were obtained.