Former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, was absent at the state’s executive committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday.

The meeting was meant for party members who are former and current public office holders in Kaduna and the country.

El-Rufai’s absence at the meeting might be unconnected from the allegation of misappropriation of public funds against him by the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

The Assembly in early June said El-Rufai must be investigated for diversion of funds and money laundering.

The state Assembly’s ad hoc committee submitted its investigative report on the El-Rufai administration’s financial dealings, loans, and contracts to the House.

El-Rufai in late June sued the Kaduna State House of Assembly over claims that his administration embezzled N432 billion and left the state with significant debt obligations.

The former governor filed a fundamental rights enforcement case against the Kaduna State House of Assembly at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.

El-Rufai, who appeared in person to file the lawsuit, alleged that the committee denied him a fair hearing.

The lawsuit, filed by El-Rufai’s lawyer, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, contested the Kaduna Assembly Committee’s report, which accused El-Rufai of corruption.

Last week, a Kaduna State House of Assembly member representing Zaria constituency Mahmud Lawal has said El-Rufai’s decision to pursue legal action over alleged misappropriation of N432 billion is “laughable”.

APC leaders at the meeting include Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero; a former governor of Kaduna, Datti Babawo; vice-chair of the APC in the Northwest and Yusuf Dahiru Liman; Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

At the meeting, the highest organ of the APC in Kaduna passed a vote of confidence on Uba Sani, the governor of the state, on Saturday.

The committee commended the governor’s “rural transformation initiatives and exemplary youth and women empowerment programs.” (The Guardian)