- Recommended suspension of the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda
By Abiola Olawale
The committee, constituted by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to probe the expenditures of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s administration, presented its findings on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
The Chairman of the committee, Henry Zacharia, who presented the report before the Kaduna State House of Assembly, said investigations revealed that most of the loans obtained under El-Rufai’s administration were allegedly diverted to finance other purposes.
In the report, the committee also advised that a comprehensive inquiry be conducted and legal action taken against El-Rufai and other implicated members of his administration by security and anti-corruption authorities.
The committee said there is evidence of allegations of misconduct, including the improper awarding of contracts, misappropriation of public funds, and money laundering under the administration of El-Rufai.
The committee also recommended the immediate suspension of the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who served in the same capacity under El-Rufai’s administration, as well as the chairman of the state universal basic education board.
It also recommended a thorough investigation of some key appointees of the last administration by appropriate law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.
The New Diplomat reports that the committee, set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, was tasked with the assignment of examining loans, grants and project implementation from 2015 to 2023 during which El-Rufai served as governor of the state.
The Assembly constituted the committee on April 16, 2024, with the Speaker, Hon. Yusuf Liman Dahiru, stating the committee was tasked to embark “on fact-finding of financial dealings, loans and grants and other projects implementation from 2015-2023.”
El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), came under scrutiny after his successor, Governor Uba Sani, on March 30, 2024, said he inherited multibillion-naira debt from his predecessor, an enormous deficit he claims made salary payments to state workers a daunting task.
