Yusuf Zailani, a former speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, has denied claims of approval of a $350m World Bank loan obtained by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai by the house under his leadership.
The former speaker dismissed the claim on the floor of the House, and it was seen in a video posted on X on Wednesday, by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communications to the Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Mal. Suraj Bamalli.
He said, “I have been waiting for this day, and the day is today. My fight was not to give approvals of loans. Some of my colleagues were around, and 6 still members of this hallowed chamber, including Isaac Auta Zankhai, the former deputy speaker. They said I should approve the loans. I said no, we need to know how many loans we have.”
It was reported that the current Kaduna State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, inaugurated a fact-finding committee to probe all finances, loans and contract projects awarded, as well as other financial spending and abandoned projects initiated by the immediate past government, between 2015 to 2023 sequel to a motion moved by the member representing the Kauru Constituency, Mugu Yusuf, who urged the House to scrutinize all the loans obtained by the El-Rufai administration.
The investigative panel was tasked with inviting El-Rufai and other prominent figures, such as the former Speaker of the 8th and 9th Assembly.
Additionally, former commissioners of Finance and ex-commissioners of Budget and Planning are also set to be invited.
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