By Tgnews
A Kaduna-based human rights group, K-23 Movement, is calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute former Governor Nasir El-Rufai for alleged corruption and crimes committed during his tenure. The group’s chairman, Comrade Bashir Bello, expressed anger over El-Rufai’s recent attacks on the state government and National Security Adviser Mal Nuhu Ribadu, saying that a man facing such serious corruption allegations should be in prison or on trial, not freely criticizing others.
The K-23 Movement accused El-Rufai’s administration of being marred by corruption and executive impunity, citing the State House of Assembly’s report that revealed monumental corruption and financial mismanagement. The group highlighted the cases of several individuals who were detained or abducted during El-Rufai’s rule, including journalists, academics, and traditional leaders.
El-Rufai be investigated for his record of abuse of office, human rights violations, and arbitrary detention, and that he should spare Governor Uba Sani his criticisms
Bello also criticized El-Rufai for flooding the media with claims that the current administration has failed to disclose financial information, while forgetting to account for the trillions of naira that accrued to the state during his tenure. The group demanded that El-Rufai be investigated for his record of abuse of office, human rights violations, and arbitrary detention, and that he should spare Governor Uba Sani his criticisms, which could distract the current administration from its progress.
The K-23 Movement’s call for El-Rufai’s prosecution is not an isolated incident, as there have been previous reports of his administration’s corruption and mismanagement. In June 2024, the group had demanded El-Rufai’s arrest and prosecution for looting the state treasury, citing the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s report that exposed the administration’s financial scandals. The report revealed that the state incurred a liability of domestic and foreign loans worth billions of naira, which were mostly obtained without regard to extant financial rules and due process.
It remains to be seen how the EFCC and other relevant agencies will respond to the K-23 Movement’s call for El-Rufai’s prosecution, but one thing is clear: the former governor’s actions and allegations against him will continue to be scrutinized by the public and civil society organizations.
