El-Rufai Breaks Silence After He Was Indicted, Set To Face Punishment

Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, has reacted following his indictment by the Kaduna State Government’s probe panel.

El-Rufai asserted that he served with integrity, responding to a report recommending his investigation. The ad hoc committee’s report, which was recently submitted, alleges that El-Rufai’s administration siphoned off N423 billion and left the state with significant liabilities.

Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, stated that the committee recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai and other implicated officials by security and anti-corruption agencies. The report also called for the immediate suspension of Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, and the chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai defended his record:

“We are aware of the news that the Kaduna State House of Assembly has adopted the report of the ad-hoc committee it tasked with probing the El-Rufai government. We have not yet received a copy of the report, but we will respond robustly when we do. We affirm the integrity of the El-Rufai administration and dismiss the scandalous claims being aired as the committee’s report.

“Malam Nasir El-Rufai is immensely proud of his governance record and the legacy he left in Kaduna State. This record of consistently high performance in public and private office cannot be tarnished by any malicious effort to use the state legislature for defamation and undeserved smears.

“Many officials who served in the El-Rufai administration appeared before the ad-hoc committee because they were confident in the quality and integrity of their service to Kaduna State. They were under no illusion that they were participating in a fair process. It was clear that the ad-hoc committee was merely going through the motions of an inquiry to lend some credibility to predetermined conclusions.

“It is disheartening to witness such a shameful departure from decency and fairness by the state legislature. We dismiss with contempt the claims being peddled in connection with the report.

“Malam El-Rufai assures discerning Nigerians that he served Kaduna State with integrity and to the best of his ability, assisted by a hardworking and patriotic team. He complied with all extant laws in all his activities as governor. This politically motivated probe should be disregarded as the hatchet job it is.”

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