…says many have been indicted
The ad-hoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate financial transactions related to loans and contractual obligations made by the Kaduna State Government between May 29, 2015, and May 29, 2023, has grilled some commissioners who served under the former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The committee was inaugurated recently by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate the financial dealings of the 8-year administration of the former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following an outcry by the incumbent Governor Uba Sani over inability to pay salaries and complete contracts because of inherited huge debts.
It was gathered that the former commissioners so far questioned were: former Commissioner Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure, Thomas Gyang, former commissioner of the Ministry of Education, Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani and former Agric Commissioner, Dr. Manzo Daniel Maigari,
Others included Commissioner/administrator Zaria Metropolitan Authority, Balarabe Aliyu, the former Managing Director of Kaduna State Roads Agency (KADRA), Engr. Mohammed Lawal Magaji, Administrator, Kafanchan Metropolitan Authority, Phoebe Yayi Sukai, among others.
Fielding questions from newsmen after a long session with former commissioners, which lasted into late night on Monday, the chairman of the ad-hoc probe commission, Henry Danjuma said that the committee may receive multiple testimonies from those invited to appear before it.
He noted that some testimonies succeeded in indicting persons not originally lined up for an invitation, who will be invited to appear before the committee based on the indictment.
Danjuma said the committee swung into action as soon as it was inaugurated, adding that some key persons have been invited and interviewed by the committee, and got testimonies from them which may lead to other testimonies after further investigation.
“The ad-hoc committee was inaugurated by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate financial dealings that has to do with loans and contractual obligations by the Kaduna State Government from 29 May 2015 to May 29, 2023.
“Since the committee was inaugurated, we swang into work and we have reached a stage where today, we have invited some key persons that we deem it necessary to have them interviewed so that we can get testimonies to aid in getting to an appropriate conclusion. So that we can give a justified report of our committee.
“Our remarks is that the entire session was open. Anybody that came took an oath to know that we are serious. That whatever is told must be honest. I think I’m happy that there have been honest and frank discussions between us and those who appeared before us.
“We have not reached findings yet. Just because of testimonies, you have to go and analyze whatever has been said before us before we reach findings. Don’t worry. By the time we are done, we will invite the press to the final reports.
“The job of the committee is to investigate financial dealings that have to do with loans, contractual obligations, and so on to unravel whether there were any misdemeanours.
“The number of persons we are expecting to invite are not exhaustive. Depending on the evidence we heard from those before us, there might be people who may be invited on the basis of the testimonies that we are receiving from those who have been invited. So, I cannot say this is the particular number that we are envisaging,” Danjuma said.
(The Nation)