On Thursday, a large group of demonstrators from the Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance (KCWGG) descended upon the Government House in Kaduna. Their primary demand was the investigation and arrest of former Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The protestors called on the current Governor, Uba Sani, to enlist the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant agencies to address allegations of financial misconduct amounting to N423 billion during El-Rufai’s tenure.
Chanting solidarity songs, the demonstrators carried placards with messages such as, “We will occupy all MDAs to chase out all indicted persons in the report,” and “Stop servicing all loans that did not follow due process before they were obtained.”
During a town hall meeting on March 30, 2024, Governor Uba Sani disclosed that the state was burdened with significant debts inherited from the previous administration, including $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities. He explained that over 70% of the state’s revenue was being used to service this debt.
In response to these revelations, the Kaduna State House of Assembly established an ad-hoc committee to scrutinize the state’s financial activities from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023. The committee, led by Barrister Henry Danjuma Magaji, presented its findings on June 5, 2024, uncovering substantial financial mismanagement and irregularities.
The report cited mismanagement of funds, improper loan diversions, overpayments to contractors, and a lack of transparency.