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Kaduna Assembly reaffirms El-Rufai indictment over alleged financial mismanagement
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Speaker says findings forwarded to authorities, Assembly lacks prosecutorial powers
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Coalition demands accountability, cites N423bn loan, N1.37bn light rail allegations
The Kaduna State House of Assembly has reaffirmed its indictment of former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, insisting that its legislative probe into the 2015–2023 administration has been concluded and findings forwarded to appropriate authorities.
Speaker of the House, Yusuf Dahiru Liman, clarified the position while addressing members of the Coalition of Kaduna Stakeholders Forum who staged a peaceful protest at the Assembly complex.
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Liman said the House carried out a detailed fact-finding exercise which uncovered serious allegations, including financial mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds.
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He stated that the committee’s report had been documented and referred to relevant agencies for further action.
“The House does not have prosecutorial powers. Our constitutional responsibility is oversight, investigation and referral. We have discharged that responsibility in accordance with due process and the rule of law,” he said.
The Speaker dismissed claims that the Assembly was shielding the former governor. He stressed that the legislature acted within its constitutional mandate and that due process must be allowed to take its course.
The protesters, led by Ambassador Yerima Shettima, convener of the Northern Stakeholders Consultative Initiative, later submitted a letter to the Speaker after addressing journalists.
In a separate address, convener of the Coalition of Kaduna Stakeholders Forum, Aliyu Muhammad, said the group was seeking clarity on the status of the probe and measures being taken to ensure accountability.
Muhammad described the protest as a peaceful and democratic follow-up to earlier demands for lawful scrutiny of the former governor’s tenure.
He noted that immunity no longer applies after leaving office and warned that investigations into matters of public interest should not be stalled.
The coalition referenced allegations raised during legislative proceedings, including the alleged misappropriation of N423bn in loans and state funds, and the diversion of N1.37bn linked to a light rail project.
Muhammad also raised concerns about governance decisions and alleged human rights issues during the period under review.
He urged anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to conduct independent and professional investigations, while calling on the media to sustain balanced reporting in the interest of transparency and democratic accountability.