Former members of the Kaduna State Executive Council (2015-2023) have strongly refuted corruption allegations leveled against them, accusing the Uba Sani-led administration of using fabricated claims as part of a politically motivated campaign.
The accusations, centered around a Kaduna State House of Assembly report alleging the disappearance of N423 billion during the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, were dismissed as “baseless” by the ex-officials. They argued that the report, which first surfaced in June 2024, had already been disproven months ago.
“We’ve already shown, back in June and July 2024, that these accusations hold no water. They are politically driven, not fact-based,” said one former official.
The ex-officials also addressed the loans mentioned in the report, claiming that many were either taken after their tenure or were misrepresented. They highlighted the inclusion of loans that did not exist, with one example being a railway loan that was never contracted.
“Only those willing to believe fiction would think that 40% of Kaduna’s earnings over eight years simply disappeared,” the statement read.
Beyond the financial allegations, the group accused Governor Uba Sani’s administration of taking credit for projects initiated during El-Rufai’s time. Key projects like schools funded through the AGILE program, World Bank CARES initiatives, and road construction under RAAMP were all started during the previous administration but are now being attributed to Sani.
The controversy also extends to the detention of El-Rufai allies, including Bashir Saidu, who was reportedly abducted in December 2024 and remains imprisoned despite being granted bail. Similarly, Jimi Lawal has allegedly been unlawfully detained after meeting bail conditions.
“They are using every administrative tool at their disposal to block our release,” said a spokesperson for the former officials. “This is about silencing those who worked alongside El-Rufai.”
The ex-officials believe the real objective behind the smear campaign is to damage El-Rufai’s political legacy. “It’s not about corruption. It’s about silencing political opposition,” they claimed.
They concluded their statement by defending El-Rufai’s legacy, pointing to the growth of Kaduna’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N13 billion in 2015 to N58 billion in 2022, alongside reforms in public service and infrastructure.
“We will continue to defend our legacy and expose this smokescreen of deceit,” the statement concluded.