El-Rufai Probe: Kaduna Assembly Quizzes Former Aides

Kaduna State House of Assembly ad-hoc committee investigating financial dealings under the administration of former governor Nasir El-Rufai has summoned former commissioners, their permanent secretaries, some local government chairmen and other stakeholders.

The committee was set up by the House to scrutinize the state‘s financial transactions, loans, contractual liabilities and other relevant matters from May 29, 2015 to May 29, 2023.

The chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon Henry Magaji Danjuma, who spoke with journalists after a closed-door meeting with the ex-commissioners on Monday night said, they deemed it necessary to have them interviewed so that they could get testimonies to help the committee justify its report.

Danjuma, who is also the deputy speaker of the House, however said the session was open to whoever was invited.

„The entire session was open. Anybody that was called was put on oath to know that we are serious and that whatever must be told must be honest,“ he said.

According to him, the discussion so far has been an honest one between the committee and the invited stakeholders.

„I am happy that it has been an honest and frank discussion between us and those that appeared before us,“ he added.

Meanwhile, the speakers of the 8th and 9th assembly, Hon Aminu Shagali and Hon Yusuf Zailani, respectively, had earlier been invited by the committee last week for a closed-door chat.

The former commissioners who have appeared before the committee include; former Commissioner Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure, former commissioner Ministry of Education, Ja‘afaru Ibrahim Sani, Agric commissioner, Dr Manzo Daniel Maigari, commissioner/administrator Zaria Metropolitan Authority, Balarabe Aliyu, Ministry of Budget and Planning Commission, former Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, among others.

The former managing director of Kaduna State Roads Agency (KADRA), Engr. Mohammed Lawal Magaji also appeared before the committee.

The chairman of the committee also noted that the investigation is still ongoing, adding that more stakeholders will be invited.