FORMER governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday (Friday 3rd of January 2025) paid a visit to the Kaduna Correctional Service Centre to see his former Chief of Staff, Bashir Saidu, who was remanded in the facility.
The former Chief of Staff was arrested on Monday, over allegations of money laundering and other charges, and taken to a magistrates’ court at Rigasa, which ordered his remand in the correctional facility.
El-Rufai, in company with three of his former commissioners, arrived at the facility around 10:19 am and left around 10:47 am.
Those with el-Rufai are the former Commissioner of Education, Jafaru Sani, former Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development, Hafsat Baba, and former Commissioner for Environment, Ibrahim Hussaini.
Attempts to speak with the former governor, who wore a green cap and light green agbada, were unsuccessful as he declined comments.
He simply entered one of the vehicles in his convoy and drove off.
El-Rufai also reportedly attempted to meet with the presiding magistrate which ordered Sa’idu’s remand but he was unsuccessful.
According to a BBC Hausa report, the former governor later visited the office of Operation Fushin Kada, the unit involved in Sa’idu’s arrest, but could not engage with security operatives present.
Sa’idu, who served as Commissioner of Finance and Chief of Staff under el-Rufai, faces allegations of laundering ₦3.96 billion and misappropriating ₦244 million.
The charges were from transactions involving the undervalued sale of $45 million in state-owned foreign currency at ₦410 per dollar, far below the prevailing parallel market rate of ₦498, causing substantial losses to Kaduna State.
Further allegations include the mismanagement of proceeds from selling government properties in Marafa Estate, valued at approximately ₦244 million.
Authorities say these acts violate the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly had previously flagged Sa’idu’s financial dealings and referred the case to anti-corruption agencies, including the EFCC and ICPC. His international passport has since been confiscated.
While critics claim the arrest was politically motivated, allegedly orchestrated through Operation Fushin Kada, the police insist it is based on credible allegations of financial misconduct.
Eighteen-Eleven Media