Ex- Gov. El-Rufai Raises Alarm Over Alleged Fresh Plot To Implicate Him In Criminal Activities
Former Governor of Kaduna State and minister of Abuja Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has raised alarm over what he described as a fresh plot to implicate him in criminal activities.
Former Governor of Kaduna State and minister of Abuja Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has raised alarm over what he described as a fresh plot to implicate him in criminal activities.
El -'Rufai noted that there was a coordinated effort to damage his reputation and keep him in prolonged detention over trumped charges of activities.
The former governor spoke in a statement on Sunday by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, warning that the “malicious orchestrations” against him, pointed to a troubling pattern.
He recalled an incident on February 12, 2026, when he was allegedly targeted for arrest upon arrival at the Abuja Airport from Cairo, describing it as an early sign of the challenges ahead, pointing out that he later honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 16, after which he was detained and later transferred to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, on February 18, 2026.
According to him, the latest concern, stems from a report published on April 18 by The Nation, titled “El-Rufai’s trial: Gunmen invade principal witness home.”
The former governor spoke in a statement on Sunday by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, warning that the “malicious orchestrations” against him, pointed to a troubling pattern.
He recalled an incident on February 12, 2026, when he was allegedly targeted for arrest upon arrival at the Abuja Airport from Cairo, describing it as an early sign of the challenges ahead, pointing out that he later honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 16, after which he was detained and later transferred to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, on February 18, 2026.
According to him, the latest concern, stems from a report published on April 18 by The Nation, titled “El-Rufai’s trial: Gunmen invade principal witness home.”
The report detailed claims by one Mohammed Umar Karage, a witness in an ongoing case at the Kaduna State High Court, that armed men had invaded his residence, as well as another follow -up containing “false imputations” and insinuations linking the incident to the former governor.
The report quoted the witness as suggesting the attack might be connected to his role in the trial and could be an attempt to silence him, drawing comparisons with the controversial disappearance of Kaduna-based activist, Abubakar Idris Dadiyata.
El-Rufai stressed that such publication was deliberately crafted to smear 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,” he also stated, adding that he is a law-abiding citizen with no connection to the alleged incident, even as his lawyers have been instructed to initiate defamation proceedings against the newspaper.
El-Rufai further noted that, he had been subjected to a sustained campaign of “innuendos and vilification,” since 2023, despite what it described as his record of public service and contributions to national development, warning against
The report quoted the witness as suggesting the attack might be connected to his role in the trial and could be an attempt to silence him, drawing comparisons with the controversial disappearance of Kaduna-based activist, Abubakar Idris Dadiyata.
El-Rufai stressed that such publication was deliberately crafted to smear 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,” he also stated, adding that he is a law-abiding citizen with no connection to the alleged incident, even as his lawyers have been instructed to initiate defamation proceedings against the newspaper.
El-Rufai further noted that, he had been subjected to a sustained campaign of “innuendos and vilification,” since 2023, despite what it described as his record of public service and contributions to national development, warning 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,” Adekeye added.
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