Nigerian Governor accused Of Siphoning Local Govt Funds To Purchase Properties In UK, South Africa, Others
El-Rufai, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), made the claims during an interview with Freedom Radio Kaduna on Tuesday.
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has levelled serious allegations against his successor, Governor Uba Sani, accusing him of diverting local government (LG) funds to purchase properties in Seychelles, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
El-Rufai, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), made the claims during an interview with Freedom Radio Kaduna on Tuesday.
He alleged that Governor Sani had been converting LG allocations into dollars to acquire foreign properties, a practice he described as a stark departure from his own administration’s handling of local government funds.
“When I was governor, I never took a kobo from local government funds. We gave them their allocations to operate. Once we set aside funds for SUBEB, primary healthcare, and other necessary deductions, we handed over the remaining money. Both the PDP and APC chairmen are alive to testify,” El-Rufai stated.
The former governor accused the current administration of embezzling LG funds, claiming that the federal agencies are turning a blind eye because Governor Sani is allegedly acting on the orders of powerful forces in the presidency to undermine him.
El-Rufai had previously accused the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, of orchestrating a campaign against him due to Ribadu’s alleged presidential ambitions.
The NSA has since denied these allegations.
“As I speak, no local government in Kaduna receives more than N50 million per month. Once the allocation arrives, they siphon it, exchange it into dollars, and use it to buy properties in Seychelles, South Africa, London, and other places,” El-Rufai alleged.
He further claimed that the state government is working with bureau de change operators to facilitate the diversion of funds. “They think that because we are silent, we are unaware of what is happening. But we know everything. We know how they divert the money and the bureau de change operators involved. Those accusing us of corruption are actually doing worse,” he added.
El-Rufai also denied ever receiving bribes from contractors during his tenure, challenging anyone with evidence to come forward.
“I have never stolen a kobo from anyone. If any contractor has given me a bribe, let him come forward. When the ICPC invited many contractors, they testified that they had never met me. Contracts worth billions were executed without me ever meeting the contractors — I worked only through commissioners and permanent secretaries,” he stated.
In a further escalation, El-Rufai accused Governor Sani of demanding kickbacks before awarding contracts.
“Uba goes to Abuja with contract documents, offering them to contractors in exchange for a 40 per cent kickback. We know what is happening. They assumed that was how we ran the government, but they are wrong,” he alleged.
