Cosmas Ekpunobi
11 July 2008
Abuja — SENATE panel on the sale of government houses in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has indicted the former minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, banning him from holding public office for life.
In its report presented on the floor of the senate yesterday and made available to journalists, the panel also indicted el-Rufai for abuse of office and asked him to refund the sum of N32 billion unaccounted for from the sales of houses in FCT.
But reacting swiftly to this, el-Rufai said he did not tamper with the proceeds from the sale of government houses in the FCT.
The panel also asked him to return one of the guest houses attached to former vice president Abubakar he (el-Rufai) allocated to himself while in office
The report also recommended immediate prosecution of the former minister and others in the ministry, who violated court orders
Chairman of the committee, Senator Abubarkar Sodangi, who presented the report yesterday, has however, urged the senate to take accelerated consideration of the report
Part of the panel's recommendations read: "All officers who disobeyed or ordered the disobedience of the court orders should be prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation."
"Also on the sale of Federal Government houses, the total receipt is N96.7 billion and deductions were N34.2 billion and the balance was given as N62.19 billion. The bank statements show only N29 billion, leaving a balance of only N32 billion unaccounted for despite all demands from him and his officers.
"After assessing the activities of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai in his duties as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), we came to the inevitable conclusion that:
1. He should account for all funds collected by the Ad hoc bodies he raised during his tenure namely-Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), Ad hoc Committee on sale of government houses in FCT, the Satellite Town Development Agency, Abuja Investments and Property Development Company Limited among others.
2. That the house he obtained for himself where he signed as lessor and lessee be revoked as a person cannot sell an item too himself, and.
3.That Mallam Nasir el-Rufai is not a fit and proper person to hold public office in a democratic setting El-Rufai in his reaction yesterday through his media consultant, Mr. Good luck Ebelo, however denied tampering with the proceeds from the sale government houses in the FCT "He wants to state without equivocation that he did not enrich himself by a kobo, and, to the best of his knowledge, neither did any of the officials involved in the sale of government houses as mandated by the federal cabinet.
"He discharged his duty with patriotic dedication and is proud of the worthy services he has rendered to the nation.
Despite the undisguised malice he has endured from those seeking to "fit in", he forthrightly answered questions posed at the public hearing," Ebelo further stated.
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Out Senators instead of doing their Jobs of making laws and logical oversite functions have proven themselves as a vindictive lot. It is beyond their power to ban anybody from holding public office for life. We are yet to forget that El-Rufai has always been in there bad books all because a lot of the senator got their illegal houses demolished by the FCT admin during El-Rufai. Let us not forget that El-Rufai faced their Panel and got them well flogged during there hearing. Now they are trying to get back at him through an ill composed panel report. The rule of Law would always have it's way in the modern dy Nigeria. I urge him to go to court to contest whatever illegal ban is placed on him. Most of the senators cannot win an election against him
Gold Finger- Ilorin, Nigeria
The same vendetta attitude again from our lawmakers,just as the other commentator raised above.The investigating panel,should make it a priority to conduct a thorough enquiry first,before making any unwarranted threats. Many of those behind this threat,are undoubtedly,people whose property might have been touched during El Rufai"s tenure as FCT minister.
Nevertheless,if El Rufai is guilty of what his accused of,does it means that only capital punishment that should be place on him is ban from holding public offices.The time has come when this old heartless leaders of ours should stop all these joke,and search for a truth solution to Nigeria problem.Can't we for once find a single leader who is patriotic in serving his country or their heart,is it deliver to the devil?You make a law which subject every arm robber to death or life imprisonment, but don't you know that your activities alone is worst than that of arm robber who just kill only one or two people.You guys share the money that is meant for construction of roads and up to 100 peoples die on motor accident daily in nigeria.i think there should be a law which must state that any public holder that misused the money his is entrusted with should be put to death by hanging or shutting.so that Nigeria will be at least reduce from this constant corrupt cases everyday.May God help our great nation Nigeria.
It is a pity that besides our wealth of knowledge in terms of how cousin countries and those outside our continent are struggling to grow and develop as a place of living for normal people the case with Nigerian "servants" has always been around corruption of either ommission or commission or in most cases both. what will El Rufai do with these billions of Naira in a country where people hardly feed three times daily? i am afraid that the leaders have neglected our people, constitutional provisions and value system. this degree of corruption is one thing that is capable of tearing NIGERIA apart in a non-organised manner. thank you to the senators who have vowed to bring the oddities of El Rufai to light. it is better to die with one's honour than to live a shameful live. agreed to defend the truth irrespective of what it might consume!
It is a pity that our so called leaders are still sleeping in thier soul and mind. Instead of using thier opportunity of being select or elect to be in thier post to create good name,enviroment,work and contribute to make nigeria great. It is a shame to see people like EL RUFAI and many other leaders addicted to power,land, property,money grabber. Give your children good education and home traning definitely they will be GREAT.
It is really sad and unfortunate; the high level of curroption associated with public/goevrnment officials in Nigeria. It is a shame and disgraceful to hear or read reported cases such as this. There is no doubt that Mallam Nasiru El-Rufa'i despite his high level of education and intellect, really abused his postion as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under the despicable rule of Mr Obasanjo. But the Minister was not alone. Even those pointing accusing fingers at him are equally guilty. Let the Federal Legislatures show genuine concern and evidence that they are better than El-Rufa'i. The various committees are nothing but a clever and annoying way of extortion from various government agencies and parastatals. What we need is not just reports, but proper investigative journalism that will unmask the shady deals that take place before the public exposure of such matters. We really need to address the issue of curruption in Nigeria.
El-Rufai should be banned for life from public office.Just after this apointment he insulted the senators . Now he has no respect of the law.No man is above the law. El-Rufai should be dealt with as a criminal which he is.He must restore the money he took and be jailed for his inconsistencies.He is a wicked man and made life very miserable for many Nigerains.He deserve all punishments meted upon him to teach other lesson.ElRufai is horrible man and should not go free.
The senate panel should adequate proof without any doubt of any amount that was to have been misappropriated by El Rufai. It very necessary that such a case be referred to a court and not be decided by political opponents of El-Rufai to make sure justice is done. Political opponents should not be allowed to be the prosecutors and the judges as this panel seems to be doing. In any civilized society, anybody suspected of breaking the law should be turned to the proper authorities for proper investigation and prosecution. El-Rurai should be allowed to defend himself in a proper court of law.