el-Rufai Probe: Kaduna Assembly Grills Ex-Commissioners, Perm Secs, Others

The Kaduna State House of Assembly Adhoc Committee investigating the financial dealings under the immediate-past administration of Governor Nasir el-Rufai has summoned and quizzed former commissioners, permanent secretaries, some local government chairmen and other stakeholders.

Recall that the committee was set up by the House to scrutinise the state’s financial transactions, loans, contractual liabilities and other relevant matters from May 29, 2015 to May 29, 2023 when el-Rufai was governor of the state.

The chairman of the adhoc committee, Hon. Henry Magaji Danjuma, who spoke with journalists after a closed-door interactions with the former aides of el-Rufai on Monday night, said: “We deemed it necessary to have them interviewed so that we can get testimonies as to aid us get to an appropriate conclusion so that we can give a justified report of our committee.”

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

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 stated.

Meanwhile, the speakers of the 8th and 9th sessions of the State Assembly, Hon. Aminu Shagali and Hon. Yusuf Zailani, respectively, had earlier been invited by the committee last week.

The former commissioners, who had appeared before the legislative committee included former Commissioner of Public Works and Infrastructure; former Commissioner of Education, Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani; ex-Agric commissioner, Dr. Manzo Daniel Maigari; former commissioner/administrator, Zaria Metropolitan Authority, Balarabe Aliyu; former Commissioner for Budget and Planning, 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 investigation was still ongoing, adding that more stakeholders will be invited by the panel.