Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El Rufai has declared that he is worth N90 billion and about 40 mansions in assets. The governor’s assets declaration came as a big shock to most Kaduna residents yesterday as he allegedly declared ownership of 40 mansions, most of which are located in Abuja.
According to a Union Newspaper report, Kaduna State Director Code of Conduct Bureau, George David, however, declined to comment when contacted.
He said the law on asset declaration permitted public office holders not to make their asset declaration public. The director however disclosed that asset declaration by El- Rufai and his Deputy were made long before yesterday.
According to him, any further information concerning the amount and assets involved in the declaration form, could only be enquired from Abuja headquarter of the Bureau.
Wikileaks publication revealed a US diplomatic cable of 2006 which said that El Rufai was “well known” by the respected US diplomat as being “homeless and seeking a loan to import a taxi from the UK eight years ago”.
A Nigerian Senate committee indicted El Rufai for abuse of office over a missing N32 billion naira ($217m, £138m at the time) from the accounts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under his leadership as minister of the FCT. He was subsequently, banned from politics by the Senate Committee.
Governor El-Rufai’s Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, confirmed that the governor had declared his assets but promised to get back to journalists with details. As at press time, he never did.
In 2008, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, wanted over an alleged N32 billion fraud while in office.
A statement issued by the commission’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, stated that the former minister “is wanted for abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N32 billion.”
The statement added that “The need to declare el-Rufai wanted became imperative following his failure to honour a simple invitation from the commission to respond to weighty allegations levelled against him in petitions being investigated by the commission.”
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