FROM RAHILA ABDULLAHI, KADUNA
Former Governor Nasir Elrufai has sued the Kaduna State House of Assembly over the latter’s claim that N423 billion was siphoned during his eight years administration, leaving the state with huge debt liabilities.
Elephant filed a fundamental rights suit at the Federal High Court in Kaduna against the state House of Assembly, on Wednesday.
Through his counsel, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), El-Rufai challenged the report of the Kaduna Assembly Committee which indicted El-Rufai for alleged corruption.
El-Rufai is demanding a public apology from the lawmakers for a report they published, which he claims defamed him and his cabinet. The State Assembly’s report alleged that the former governor misappropriated over ₦423 billion during his tenure.
Recall that the adhoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under Nasir El-Rufai submitted its report in which it indicted the ex-governor and some of his appointees.
But El-Rufai, in a swift reaction by his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, knocked the report, describing it as false and scandalous.
“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 provided with 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,” Adekeye had said.
In his suit, El-Rufai asked the court to declare that by the provisions of Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the Report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Investigation of Loans, Financial Transactions, Contractual Liabilities and Other Related Matters of the Government of Kaduna State from 29 May 2015 to 29 May 2023, as ratified by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, is unconstitutional and therefore null and void for violating his right to fair hearing as guaranteed under the Constitution.
The legal proceedings have drawn significant attention, with many awaiting the court’s decision on the matter. The outcome of this case could have substantial implications for El-Rufai’s political future and the current political landscape in Kaduna state.
