Music executive Audu Maikori has publicly condemned former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for expressing dissatisfaction regarding the behavior of security personnel who attempted to apprehend him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja last week.
El-Rufai, known for his criticisms of the Tinubu administration, had just arrived at the airport when security agents reportedly tried to detain him. He resisted their attempts, claiming they had neither summoned him nor possessed a warrant for his arrest.
Public figures, including activist Deji Adeyanju, have pointed out the inconsistency in El-Rufai's reaction, suggesting that he now portrays himself as a victim despite having previously engaged in similar actions while serving as governor.
During an interview on Arise TV last night, Maikori recounted an incident from when El-Rufai was in power, asserting that he too had faced 'abduction' by security forces at El-Rufai's direction.
In 2017, Maikori was initially arrested over his remarks concerning alleged killings in Southern Kaduna. He had tweeted about the supposed murder of his driver's brother and his friends, who were purportedly students at the Kaduna State College of Education. Subsequent investigations by the police revealed that the claims were fabricated, driven by his driver’s attempts to exploit Maikori's sympathy for financial gain.
Despite retracting his statements and issuing an apology to both the Kaduna State Government and the public, Maikori was prosecuted. Following his release, he faced a second arrest initiated by the state government, although all charges were eventually dropped after a thorough inquiry.
In his discussion on Arise, Maikori argued that El-Rufai's actions constituted persecution rather than legitimate prosecution, stating that it is inappropriate for a governor to overstep law enforcement's role in handling investigations.
"There exists a distinction between prosecution and persecution. My experiences with El-Rufai—along with many others—were indeed persecution. It is not the role of a governor to conduct police work," Maikori emphasized.
He further recounted, "I spent a week in Abuja after my first arrest on February 17, during which my driver confessed to the lie behind his accusations. I was released due to the findings of the police. Disturbingly, El-Rufai subsequently threatened to link my tweet to the potential deaths of individuals, insinuating severe consequences. How can a governor act in such a manner? The police cleared me."
Maikori concluded that El-Rufai's present grievances about his detention reveal a lack of self-awareness, criticizing him for employing state power to unjustly detain citizens during his governance.
"One must approach justice with integrity. While I am not advocating for the circumvention of due process because of his status, it is indeed ironic that the individual who led one of the most oppressive administrations in Kaduna history is now lamenting perceived mistreatment by the same system he manipulated, " Maikori stated.
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