‘Impeachable Offence,’ El-Rufai Accuses Tinubu Of Illegal N100bn Monthly Deductions
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has ignited a fresh constitutional crisis following allegations that Bola Tinubu has been unlawfully withdrawing ₦100 billion every month from the Federation Account without legislative approval or constitutional backing.
Speaking in an interview, El-Rufai asserted that these unauthorized deductions have persisted for over 15 months, totaling a staggering ₦1.5 trillion. The former governor, once a close ally of Tinubu, characterized the act as a grave violation of the 1999 Constitution and a direct assault on the fiscal sovereignty of the three tiers of government.
“Every month, Bola Tinubu deducts ₦100 billion from the Federation Account. This is unconstitutional and, under our laws, it is an impeachable offence,” El-Rufai declared.
He argued that the former Lagos governor lacks the unilateral authority to divert funds from the Federation Account, which belongs to the Federal, State, and Local Governments, without an Act of the National Assembly or an express constitutional provision.
El-Rufai’s allegations come at a time of heightened economic tension and growing friction between the Presidency and several prominent Northern leaders. The former governor suggested that the missing funds are being utilized for “extra-budgetary purposes” that remain opaque to the public and the legislature, further worsening the nation’s transparency rating.
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The accusation has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, with legal experts noting that if proven, the unauthorized diversion of federation funds would constitute “gross misconduct,” the primary constitutional ground for impeachment. Opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly have already begun calling for a forensic audit of the Federation Account to verify the claims.
