By Milcah Tanimu

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is preparing to question former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai regarding allegations of mismanaging N423 billion during his tenure.

The EFCC has assembled a team to investigate El-Rufai, along with former finance commissioners, accountants-general, and the chairmen of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) from 2018 to 2023. The investigation will also extend to the managing directors of the Kaduna Market Development and Management Company Ltd and the Kaduna Roads Agency (KADRA) from 2015 to 2023.

The investigation follows a report by an ad-hoc committee of the Kaduna House of Assembly, which uncovered that approximately N423,115,028,072.88 was allegedly siphoned from the state’s coffers during El-Rufai’s administration from 2015 to 2023. The committee also highlighted a cumulative withdrawal of $1.4 million from the Kaduna State Economic Transformation Account.

The House panel has demanded that eight individuals and companies refund N19,239,511,099.76, and 15 contractors return N36,351,126,811.65, citing payments for work either not done, overpayments, or diversion of funds.

An anonymous EFCC source confirmed receiving a petition from an NGO, prompting the investigation. “We are in receipt of a petition from an NGO. So, we have started investigating the matters raised in the petition,” the source told The Nation. The EFCC is also utilizing the report from the Kaduna State House of Assembly as a foundation for their probe.

“The report of the ad-hoc committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly is also handy. We will soon invite El-Rufai and some members of his team for interrogation,” the source added, noting that a special task force had already conducted a thorough review of the petition and the committee’s report.

The forthcoming interrogation underscores the EFCC’s commitment to addressing allegations of financial mismanagement and ensuring accountability in public office.