From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
Kaduna State House of Assembly has set up a 13-man legislative panel to probe all finances, loans and contracts awarded by the immediate past governor, Nasir El Rufai, between 2015 and 2023.
The resolution was reached during a special session of the House, presided over by the Speaker, Yusuf Liman.
Yusuf Mugu, member representing Kaura constituency, moved the motion under matter of public importance that the loans borrowed by the former governor be investigated.
He said there was a need for the people of the state to know the conditions used for the loan.
“There have been uncompleted comments and assassinations of character on the leadership of the state, which the Assembly cannot sit and watch. That is why I came up with this motion that the speaker constitute a committee to investigate the allegations and negative comments on them. This is the only way the state can rekindle its confidence in its development partners, collaborators, and also those who give us loans and grants; failure to do this will push the indicators of the state to a situation whereby nobody will want to do business with us,” he said.
The former speaker of the Assembly, Yusuf Zailani, who also spoke on the issue, said he suffered during the El-Rufai administration, adding that he denied approval of some of the loans, but the governor still found his way.
Zailani, who is also a member, representing Igabi West constituency, said: “I suffered a lot in not giving approval for the loan to be collected; even the then deputy speaker, Isaac Zankhai, was against me because I disagreed with the loan to be collected. I told the then governor to look at the number of loans we had on hand, and he didn’t listen to me.”
Samuel Kambai, member representing Zangon Kataf, and Henry Marah, member representing the Jaba constituency, said the duty of the legislators is to give approval before the governor goes ahead to collect loans, but in Kaduna, the case is different.
The duo, therefore, urged the committee to summon the 8th and 9th Assembly speakers, along with some members of the same Assembly, to come and give explanations on how the loans were collected and spent.
Liman, who presided over the plenary, urged the ad hoc committee to invite the speakers of the 8th and 9th assemblies and all other relevant stakeholders and agencies for investigation.
He assured the House that the matter will be properly looked into, saying they will give everyone the liberty to speak the truth.
The House unanimously requested to hand over notes given to Uba Sani by the previous administration so that it would guide the committee on the financial status of the state.
The 13-man committee includes Aminu Anti, representing Doka Gabasawa as the chairman, Yusuf Kaura as the deputy chairman, Munira Tanimu, Shehu Yunusa as members and 9 others.
The panel, among others, was mandated to investigate El-Rufai’s top associate and senior counsellor on investment, Jimi Lawal.
The panel, according to the House, would probe financial dealings, loans and grants, and other project implementation from 2015 to 2023.
The Assembly also mandated the committee to invite notable personalities, including the former speakers of the 8th and 9th Assembly, commissioners of finance, former managing directors of Kaduna markets, and commissioners of budget and planning.
The governor, Uba Sani, said during a town hall meeting with stakeholders that the huge debts inherited from the immediate past governor, El-Rufai, are making it difficult for him to pay his salary as well as carry out some projects.
Since the disclosure, there have been mixed reactions from the public, including those supporting the former governor as well as the governor.