Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has alleged a fresh plot to implicate him in criminal activities, describing it as part of a coordinated effort to tarnish his reputation and prolong his detention.
In a statement issued by his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai claimed that his troubles began on February 12, 2026, when he was allegedly targeted for arrest upon arrival at Abuja airport from Cairo. He said he later honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, was detained, and subsequently transferred to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on February 18.
The latest concern, according to the statement, stems from a report published in the April 18 edition of The Nation newspaper, titled “El-Rufai’s trial: Gunmen invade principal witness’s home.” The article quoted one Mohammed Umar Karage, a witness in an ongoing case at the Kaduna State High Court, alleging that armed men had invaded his residence. Karage reportedly suggested the attack might be connected to his role in the trial and could be an attempt to silence him, drawing parallels with the controversial disappearance of Kaduna-based activist Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.
El-Rufai’s camp rejected the claims, accusing the newspaper of publishing “false imputations” and insinuations linking him to the incident. The statement argued that the report was deliberately framed to damage his image, undermine his pending bail application, and implicate him in serious offences. “Any objective reader would recognise the clear intent behind these statements: to tarnish his reputation and justify his continued detention,” it said.
Maintaining his innocence, the former governor described himself as a law-abiding citizen with no connection to the alleged incident. He added that his legal team has been instructed to initiate defamation proceedings against the newspaper.
The statement further alleged that since 2023, El-Rufai has been subjected to a sustained campaign of “innuendos and vilification,” despite what it described as his record of public service and contributions to national development. It warned against the misuse of legal processes, stressing that the rule of law must not be turned into a tool of oppression.
“El-Rufai should be accorded full due process guaranteed by law to every citizen, and the persistent disregard for his rights must cease immediately,” the statement added.
