- Says Assembly report was “jaundiced probe” that “should be disregarded” as it was a “politically motivated hatchet job”
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has clapped back at the Kaduna State House of Assembly, saying that he served the State with integrity.
The Kaduna House of Assembly Committee had probed alleged corruption, financial irregularities, loans, grants, and project implementation from 2015 to 2023 during the administration of the former Governor and indicted him for fraud, abuse of office, money laundering. It therefore recommended him to the security and anti-corruption agencies for probe.
But El-Rufai, in a statement by his Media Aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, maintained that he “led a government of integrity and competent governance.”
He described the report as a “jaundiced probe” that “should be disregarded” as it was a “politically motivated hatchet job.”
According to the statement: We are aware of news that the Kaduna State House of Assembly has adopted the report of the ad-hoc committee it asked to probe the El-Rufai government. We have not been availed a copy of the report, to which we would respond robustly whenever we obtain it. We affirm the integrity of the El-Rufai government and dismiss the scandalous claims being aired as the report of the committee.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai is immensely proud of his record of governance and the legacy he left in Kaduna State. This record of consistently high performance in public and private office cannot be altered by any malicious effort to use the auspices of a state legislature for defamation and undeserved smears.
“Many of the officials who served in the El-Rufai government appeared before the ad-hoc committee because of their confidence in the quality of their service and the rectitude which they served Kaduna State. Theywere under no illusion that they were participating in a fair process. It was obvious that the ad hoc committee was merely going through the motions of an inquiry just to give some gloss to predetermined conclusions.
“It is sad to see such a shameful departure from any notion of decency and fairness by a state legislature. We dismiss with contempt the claims being peddled in connection with the report.
“Malam El-Rufai wishes to assure discerning Nigerians that he has served Kaduna State with integrity and to the best of his capacity, assisted by a hardworking and patriotic team. He complied with all extant laws in all his activities while he was the Governor. This jaundiced probe should be disregarded as the politically motivated hatchet job it is.”