El-Rufai Visits Former Commissioner in Kaduna Correctional Facility Amid Corruption Allegations

Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai, made a surprise visit to a Correctional Facility in the state following the detention of his former Commissioner, Mohammed Bashir Sa’idu. The ex-Commissioner, who also served as Chief of Staff during El-Rufai’s administration, faces charges of corruption and money laundering.

Sequence of Events

El-Rufai, accompanied by prominent members of his former administration, reportedly sought an audience with Sa’idu at the facility. Earlier, he visited the court where Sa’idu was arraigned but was unable to meet the presiding judge. A BBC Hausa report also indicated that El-Rufai proceeded to the office of Operation Fushin Kada, a security unit, but did not meet with officials there.

The former governor refrained from speaking to journalists, leaving the purpose and outcomes of his visits undisclosed.

Allegations Against Bashir Sa’idu

Mohammed Bashir Sa’idu, a former Commissioner of Finance and Local Government, is accused of multiple financial crimes during his tenure in Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023. The Nigeria Police Force confirmed his arrest and ongoing investigation.

Key allegations include:

– Money Laundering: Sa’idu is accused of laundering N3.96 billion through the undervalued sale of $45 million in state-owned foreign currency. The exchange rate used, N410 per dollar, was significantly below the prevailing parallel market rate of N498 per dollar, causing substantial losses to the state.

– Misappropriation of Funds: He allegedly failed to account for N244 million from the sale of government-owned properties in Marafa Estate, Kaduna.

– Breach of Trust: These actions reportedly violate Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Section 300 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

Reports reveal that the Kaduna State House of Assembly had previously investigated Sa’idu’s financial activities and submitted its findings to anti-corruption agencies, including the EFCC and ICPC. As part of the ongoing investigation, Sa’idu’s international passport has been seized to prevent flight risks.

Critics have alleged that Sa’idu’s arrest is politically motivated, claiming it was orchestrated through Operation Fushin Kada, a task force originally established to tackle insecurity in the state. However, the police have denied these claims, emphasizing that the arrest stems from credible allegations of financial misconduct.