Malam Nasir El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna State, has alerted the public to what he described as “malicious orchestrations” targeted at him.
In a statement signed and released on Sunday by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai said the alleged attempt to arrest him upon arrival at Abuja Airport from Cairo on 12 February 2026 signaled more troubling developments ahead.
According to the statement, the apparent objective of the scheme is to secure his indefinite detention through questionable tactics. It stressed that such actions are unacceptable, particularly against a citizen who has made significant contributions to the country.
El-Rufai maintained that the rule of law must not be manipulated as a tool of oppression, emphasizing that legal processes should serve justice rather than undermine a citizen’s fundamental right to liberty while standing trial.
The statement insisted that El-Rufai must be granted full due process as guaranteed by law and called for an immediate end to what it described as persistent violations of his rights.
It further recalled that since 16 February 2026, when he honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, he was detained and later transferred to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on the night of 18 February.
The statement confirmed that the former governor remains in detention and has been arraigned in two separate high courts.
It also criticised a report titled “El-Rufai’s trial: Gunmen invade principal witness home”, published by a national newspaper on 18 April 2026.
According to the statement, the report alleged that a witness in the Kaduna State High Court case claimed armed individuals invaded his residence and linked the incident to his role in the corruption case against El-Rufai.
The publication further suggested that the attack might be an attempt to silence the witness, drawing comparisons to the disappearance of activist Abubakar Idris Dadiyata.
However, El-Rufai’s camp described these claims as defamatory, arguing that they were intended to damage his reputation, affect his pending bail application, and falsely associate him with serious criminal acts.
The statement added that El-Rufai has instructed his legal team to initiate defamation proceedings.
It concluded by stating that since 2023, he has faced a sustained campaign of “vilification and innuendo,” despite his record of public service.
