Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El’rufai, has dismissed allegation of misappropriating N423 billion levelled against him and some of his former aides as a politically-motivated hatchet job to demean his integrity and public service record.

In his reaction to the decision of the Kaduna State House of Assembly to adopt the report of its ad-hoc committee, which called for his probe of his administration, the former governor affirmed that he conducted himself with honesty and integrity during his tenure.

Speaking through his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, the former governor defended his administration’s record, insisting that he left a legacy that he is proud of in the North West state.

He said, “We are aware of news that the Kaduna State House of Assembly has adopted the report of the ad-hoc committee it asked to probe the El-Rufai government. We have not been availed a copy of the report, to which we would respond robustly whenever we obtain it. We affirm the integrity of the El-Rufai government and dismiss the scandalous claims being aired as the report of the committee.”

“Malam Nasir El-Rufai is immensely proud of his record of governance and the legacy he left in Kaduna State. This record of consistently high performance in public and private office cannot be altered by any malicious effort to use the auspices of a state legislature for defamation and undeserved smears.

Vouching for the integrity of his former aides who served under him as governor, Adekeye disclosed, “Many of the officials, who served in the El-Rufai government appeared before the ad-hoc committee, because of their confidence in the quality of their service and the rectitude which they served Kaduna State.

“They were under no illusion that they were participating in a fair process. It was obvious that the ad-hoc committee was merely going through the motions of an inquiry just to give some gloss to predetermined conclusions.

“It is sad to see such a shameful departure from any notion of decency and fairness by a state legislature. We dismiss with contempt the claims being peddled in connection with the report. El-Rufai complied with all extant laws in all his activities while he was the governor. This jaundiced probe should be disregarded as the politically-motivated hatchet job it is.”