The Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance has called for the arrest of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, urging the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch an immediate investigation into his alleged theft of ₦423 billion.
This demand follows a report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which indicted El-Rufai and his appointees for misappropriation of loans and theft amounting to ₦423 billion.
On Wednesday, members of the Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance marched to the ICPC office on Wurno Road, Kaduna, to submit their petition and demand El-Rufai’s immediate arrest and probe.
The group had previously led a protest on June 20, 2024, to the Kaduna State Government House, urging Governor Uba Sani to invite anti-corruption agencies to arrest his predecessor.
Victor Duniya, the Chairman of the group, addressed newsmen after submitting their petition to the ICPC. He revealed that a similar petition had been submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.
“Yesterday, the 2nd of July 2024, we officially lodged petitions at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the zonal office of Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission Kaduna against the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and many members of his administration that the Kaduna State House of Assembly ad hoc committee report on sourcing and usage of domestic loans from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023 indicted,” Duniya said.
He emphasized that their petitions requested immediate investigations, arrests, and prosecutions of El-Rufai and his appointees involved in the alleged mismanagement and siphoning of funds, as well as other illegal financial and administrative activities detailed in the report.
“Holding the former governor and those that pillaged the treasury and shortchanged people’s interest accountable will deter other elected and appointed public officials from mindless looting of public treasury with impunity,” Duniya added.
The group expressed confidence in the anti-graft agencies’ capacity and determination to combat corruption in Nigeria, urging them to take swift and decisive action.
