Ex-Kaduna Commissioner Arrested Over Alleged ₦3.9 Billion Diversion

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested Mohammed Bashir Saidu, a former commissioner under the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, on allegations of financial misconduct involving billions of naira.

Sa’idu, who served as the Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Chief of Staff, and Commissioner of Finance during el-Rufai’s tenure, is accused of money laundering to the tune of ₦3.9 billion and misappropriation of ₦244 million.

The allegations stem from a petition accusing Sa’idu of selling $45 million belonging to the state government at an exchange rate of ₦410 per dollar in 2021, instead of the prevailing market rate of ₦498 per dollar, resulting in a ₦3.9 billion shortfall.

Additionally, Sa’idu is alleged to have failed to account for the proceeds from the sale of Kaduna State government properties located in Marafa Estate. As chairman of the committee overseeing the sale of government assets, he is said to have violated financial protocols.

Saidu is currently in police custody while the allegations are being investigated.

Sources quoted by Vanguard confirmed that his passport has been confiscated, and he is also under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In June 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly set up an ad hoc committee that recommended investigations into alleged financial irregularities during el-Rufai’s administration.

The committee alleged that public funds amounting to ₦423 billion were diverted, and loans obtained during the administration were misused for purposes other than their original intent.