Probe: El-Rufai seeks prayers for Gov Sani, predicts his downfall

The immediate-past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has disclosed that he is not perturbed by the ongoing probe of his administration by the state House of Assembly, predicting that the probe may not yield results.

El-Rufai made this statement while speaking at a Sallah gathering with associates, advising them to remain calm and avoid engaging in a war of words with Governor Uba Sani’s aide.

He, however, called on his followers to pray for Governor Uba Sani and his cabinet members in order for them to do the right thing.

Ei-Rufai added that Sani’s actions would ultimately lead to his downfall, stating, when Sani is done prancing, he will fall off like candy [in a kid’s hand].

“Support the governor and his cabinet members with prayers for them to do the right thing. Don’t feel hurt with what’s going on. When he is done prancing, he will fall off like candy [in a kid’s hand],” he said.

El-Rufai’s comments come amid a growing rift between him and his successor, Sani, who recently revealed that the state was struggling to pay salaries due to loans taken out by El-Rufai’s administration, totaling $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contract liabilities.

“Despite the huge debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development.

“We have conducted a thorough assessment of our situation and are sharpening our focus accordingly. It gladdens my heart to inform you that despite the huge inherited debt on the state, to date, we have not borrowed a single kobo,” the governor said.

The former governor’s son, Bashir El-Rufai, responded to Sani’s remark with a tweet on X, claiming that the governor was only trying to cover up his administration’s incompetence.

El-Rufai claimed that the governor had “deflected” from his responsibilities and abandoned his duty as governor.

“These guys have realised that they are wholly incompetent and the only way to mask the nonsense is to deflect. From a Governor who is always sleeping in Abuja to a litany of incompetent aides who were only rewarded for foolish political reasons,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State House of Assembly ad-hoc committee has indicted El-Rufai and some key members of his cabinet for alleged corruption in the awards of contracts and management of both domestic and foreign loans obtained by his government.

In the report submitted to the House by the chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Henry Danjuma, it said that there was evidence of several cases of corruption in the running of the affairs of the government, ministries, departments, and agencies in Kaduna State from May 29th, 2015, to May 29th, 2023.

After adopting the report, the house recommended that the Kaduna Internal Revenue Service withdraw the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Account domiciled at Zenith Bank as Security for N20bn guaranteed in 2023 forthwith and request the bank to refund all monies deducted on account of the purported illegal guarantee together with the accrued interest thereof.

It also recommended that all the commissioners of finance of the state from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023 be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for a thorough investigation; and that all the accountant generals of the state from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023 be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for investigation.

The lawmakers also recommended the suspension of the commissioner of finance Shizzer Bada to allow for proper investigation into the activities of the Ministry from 29th May 2015 to May 29th, 2023.

The House also recommended that El-Rufai breached his oath of office contained in the 7th Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended and failed to exercise due discretion in the administration of the state.

It recommended that El-Rufai be referred to anti-corruption agencies for a thorough investigation and necessary prosecution for plunging the state into unwanted, unjustified, and fraudulent domestic and foreign debts, diversion of funds, and money laundering contrary to all extant laws and regulations.

The House also indicted El-Rufai’s former senior adviser-counsellor, Jimmy Lawal, who was tasked with coordinating the activities of government ministries and agencies despite having no constitutional role, for abusing the trust placed in him.

The House alleged that Lawal took advantage of the opportunity to introduce dubious companies to which he secured the award of several contracts at exorbitant amounts, which contracts were abandoned after payment of substantial contractual sums, and diversion of funds intended for project execution, and referred him to the relevant law enforcement agencies for a thorough investigation and necessary action.