Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has issued a warning regarding what he describes as a new conspiracy aimed at implicating him in criminal acts and securing his extended detention.
In a statement released on Sunday by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El- Rufai highlighted recent developments that he believes point to a deliberate strategy to harm his public image.
He recounted an incident on February 12, 2026, where he alleged he was targeted for arrest upon his arrival at the Abuja Airport from Cairo, viewing it as an initial indicator of impending challenges.
El-Rufai also stated that he voluntarily responded to an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16. Following this, he was detained and subsequently transferred to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on February 18.
The former governor's current concern is a report published on April 18 by The Nation, headlined "El-Rufai’s trial: Gunmen invade principal witness home."
This report detailed allegations by Mohammed Umar Karage, a witness in an ongoing case before the Kaduna State High Court, who claimed his home was invaded by armed individuals.
While acknowledging the right of citizens to report criminal incidents, El- Rufai's team criticized the newspaper for what they termed "false imputations" and insinuations in the article that linked the incident to the former governor.
The report quoted the witness suggesting the attack might be related to his testimony in the ongoing trial and could be an effort to silence him, drawing parallels with the disappearance of activist Abubakar Idris Dadiyata.
El-Rufai's representatives strongly refuted these claims, asserting that the publication was intentionally designed to smear his character, jeopardize his bail application, and connect him with serious offenses.
"Any objective reader would recognise the clear intent behind these statements: to tarnish his reputation and justify his continued detention," the statement indicated.
El-Rufai maintained his assertion of innocence, identifying himself as a law- abiding citizen with no connection to the reported incident. He stated that his legal counsel has been directed to pursue defamation proceedings against the newspaper.
The statement also alleged that since 2023, El-Rufai has been subjected to persistent campaigns of "innuendos and vilification," despite his track record in public service and contributions to national development.
It served as a caution against the misuse of legal procedures, emphasizing that the rule of law should not be employed as an instrument 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 concluded.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!