…raises alarm over newspaper report linking him to witness intimidation
Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged a “fresh plot” to implicate him in criminal activities, claiming a coordinated effort to damage his reputation and justify his continued detention.
In a statement issued Sunday through his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, the former governor warned of “malicious orchestrations” against him, pointing to recent developments he described as a troubling pattern.
El-Rufai recalled an incident on February 12, 2026, when he said he was allegedly targeted for arrest upon arrival at Abuja Airport from Cairo, calling it an early indicator of challenges ahead.
He further disclosed that he 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.
The latest concern stems from an April 18 report 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.
While acknowledging citizens’ civic duty to report crimes, El-Rufai’s camp accused the newspaper of publishing what it described as “false imputations” and insinuations linking the incident to the former governor.
The report quoted the witness suggesting the attack might be connected to his role in the trial and could be an attempt to silence him, drawing comparisons with the disappearance of Kaduna-based activist Abubakar Idris Dadiyata.
El-Rufai’s camp rejected the claims, arguing the 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,” the statement said.
Maintaining his innocence, El-Rufai described himself as a law-abiding citizen with no connection to the alleged incident and revealed that his legal team has been instructed to initiate defamation proceedings against the newspaper.
The statement also alleged that since 2023, the former governor 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.
“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.