Following the establishment of a probe committee by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to delve into the financial dealings during the tenure of former Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, the committee has commenced its investigations.
The scope of the inquiry spans from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023.
In a formal communication by Barrister Sakinatu Hassan Idris, Clerk to the Legislature, it was outlined that the submission of documents is expected by Thursday, 25th April, 2024, by 10:00 am. This deadline was set for the Commissioner of Finance, as stated in the communication.
“The Kaduna State House of Assembly at its One Hundred and Fiftieth (150th) Sitting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, resolved and constituted an Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate Loans, Financial Transactions, Contractual Liabilities & Other Related Matters of The Government of Kaduna State from 29th May, 2015 to 29 May, 2023,” the letter stated.
The committee’s mandate, in line with the Assembly’s Standing Orders and Rules of 2019 and Sections 103, 128, and 129 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, includes a thorough examination of the state’s financial practices.
The Assembly’s letter, referenced LEG/S.382/VOL.II/615, demanded extensive documentation from the Commissioner.
The requested documents include:
i. Total Loans: Details from May 2015 to May 2023 including approvals by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, accounts into which the loans were lodged, and drawn as recorded by the Project Finance Management Unit (PFMU) & Debt Management Office (DMO).
ii. Executive Minutes and Resolutions: Relevant State Executive Council minutes of meetings, council’s extracts, and resolutions regarding the loans.
iii. Contractual Payments: Records of payments and outstanding liabilities to contractors for the period from May 2015 to May 2023.
iv. Salary Reports: Reports of salaries paid to staff from 2016 to 2022.
v. KADRIS Reports: Dloyd Reports on KADRIS from 2015 to 2023.
vi. Loan Terms and Conditions: Details on the terms, purpose, and conditions of those loans.
vii. Appropriation Records: Appropriation items related to the loans.
viii. Payments to Contractors: All records of payments made to all contractors engaged by the state government and relevant documents from May 2015 to May 2023, including bank statements.
ix. Payment Modalities: Modalities for payments of contracts.
x. Government Property Sales: Documents of all payments made to the contractors, sales of government houses/properties, accounts the proceeds were lodged, and how the money was expended.