El-Rufai Left 60% Of Projects Abandoned Despite Full Funding, Looted Treasury — Kaduna Assembly

Henry Marah, the Chairman of the Kaduna State House of Assembly Ad Hoc Committee probing the eight-year administration of ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that the former governor left 60% of fully funded projects abandoned in the state.

Marah also alleged that several credit facilities were taken from multilateral development banks and earmarked for projects during the past administration in the state but those projects were not executed and the money unaccounted for.

The lawmaker also said money was taken by El-Rufai’s government without any activity attached to it.

Marah who spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday, alleged that “By the time he (El-Rufai) came into office in 2015, the domestic debt incurred by the previous government was completely wiped off.

“He came in, there was zero debt, and then they left behind for him monies worth about N3bn to kick off his government.

READ: Kaduna Assembly Recommends Probe Of El-Rufai For Abuse Of Office, Money Laundering

“Now, go back and check, in his (El-Rufai’s) handover note how much he left as debt for us. And then the monies he collected to execute these projects. Over 60% of these projects were abandoned and it will take Kaduna State 20 years to even complete what he left behind. So, where is the integrity?” he asked.

He said the former governor’s administration was “enmeshed in corruption”, and “mercilessly looted the treasury of the state”.

The lawmaker claimed that some of the loans taken by the previous government were not approved by the Assembly and that the signatures of some lawmakers were forged to approve the loans.

He said that everyone who served under the previous administration and whose signatures appeared on relevant documents were invited and they appeared before the committee but El-Rufai was not invited.

Marah, however, said El-Rufai would be allowed to explain himself, adding that the report of the committee has been sent to anti-corruption agencies for action.

But El-Rufai dismissed the allegation, describing it as a “politically motivated hatchet job.

The former governor in a statement on Wednesday through his spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, said he led a government of integrity and competence during his eight-year administration.