El-Rufai sues newspaper over alleged false publication of assets declaration

KADUNA State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a suit at the state High Court registry against a newspaper over a publication which claimed that he declared an asset worth N90 billion and 40 mansions at the Code of Conduct Bureau.

El-Rufai was accompanied to the state High Court by his lawyers, Deputy Governor Bala Yusuf Bantex, and other top government officials.

Speaking with journalists shortly after signing the writ of summon, El-Rufai, who denied having N90 billion asset and 40 mansions described the story as untrue and malicious.

He said he had earlier declared his assets before his swearing in on May 29, 2015 at the Code of Conduct Bureau.

The governor stated that the newspaper outfit must come out in court and prove that, “I am as rich as they claimed.”

El-Rufai further remarked: “I am here to sign papers to file a suit against a newspaper publication that claimed falsely that I declared N90 billion as my assets and that I had 40 mansions.”

“It has taken a bit of time for the lawyers to put together the papers, but we are definitely suing them. Let them come and prove that I am as rich as they claimed. If I have all these money as claimed by the newspaper, I would do a lot more for Kaduna State with the money.

“No one can be sworn into office as governor without declaring his assets. So, every governor in Nigeria, every elected official must have declared his assets before the chief judge swears him in. It is not even a question requiring an answer.”

It will be recalled that the media outfit in a publication on June 1st 2015 claimed that Governor El-Rufai declared N90 billion assets including 40 mansions.