Immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has accused incumbent Governor Uba Sani of diverting local government funds to purchase choice properties in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Seychelles.
El-Rufai who has been engaged in a prolonged war of words with his successor, in an interview with Freedom Radio Kaduna on Tuesday, claimed that Sani converted local government allocations into dollars to acquire the foreign properties, adding that this was a departure from what transpired during his two tenures as governor as he did not interfere with 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,” the former FCT Minister said.
Speaking further, El-Rufai alleged that Governor Sani was embezzling local government funds, adding that the federal government agencies were overlooking this because the governor was allegedly carrying out the operation to pull down El-Rufai at the behest of powerful forces in the presidency.
“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.
“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.
“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 further accused Governor Sani of collecting 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 insisted.