El-Rufai

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, will remain in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) overnight, his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, has confirmed.

El-Rufai honoured the invitation of the anti-graft agency on Monday morning. He has since been responding to questions from EFCC detectives regarding matters under investigation.

Providing an update late Monday, Adekeye disclosed the development in a post shared at 10:07 p.m.

“UPDATE: Malam Nasir @elrufai today honoured the invitation extended to him by the EFCC. He had a frank and fruitful interaction with the EFCC officials, whom his counsel noted were entirely professional in their approach and conduct. He remains with the EFCC.”

A source, quoted by NAN, said investigators questioned the former governor over alleged fraudulent activities linked to his administration during his tenure from 2015 to 2023.

“He is with our investigators, but cannot confirm how long he would be questioned, it is still early to know how long he will stay there,” the source was quoted to have said.

Another source indicated that there is a possibility he may be taken to court for arraignment after the interrogation process.

Meanwhile, as the EFCC engagement continued, the Department of State Services (DSS) filed charges against El-Rufai over allegations that he bugged the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

El-Rufai had spoken on ARISE Television during the weekend. He alleged that someone tapped Ribadu’s phone and overheard him ordering his arrest.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has called on former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to forward proof of his allegation concerning the purchase of a poisonous substance to the Department of State Services (DSS) for investigation.

The reaction followed claims by El-Rufai that the National Security Adviser’s office, led by Nuhu Ribadu, procured thallium sulphate, a toxic chemical compound. He had also alleged that the substance was sourced from a supplier in Poland and demanded clarification over the reported transaction.

Thallium sulphate is known to be a highly poisonous, colourless and odourless substance capable of causing death even in small quantities.

In its response, ONSA dismissed the allegation. The office urged the former governor to provide any evidence in his possession to the DSS to enable a detailed probe.

A formal reply to El-Rufai was issued in a letter signed by Brigadier-General OM Adesuyi on behalf of the National Security Adviser. The correspondence was dated February 13, 2026, and acknowledged an earlier message from the former governor.

“I have the honour to present the compliments of the National Security Adviser and to acknowledge receipt of Your Excellency’s correspondence received on 11 February 2026 requesting clarification regarding the alleged procurement of approximately 10 kilograms of Thallium Sulphate by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

“The correspondence further indicated that information concerning the purported procurement is reportedly available to the political opposition leadership. In this regard, I am directed to respectfully convey that ONSA has neither procured nor initiated any process for the purchase of such material, and has no intention of doing so.

“However, I am further directed to state that the allegation has been formally referred to the Department of State Services for a comprehensive investigation. Your Excellency and other parties involved, who may possess relevant information relating to this claim will be duly invited by the Service to provide any evidence that may assist in an in-depth investigation, establishing the facts and ensuring due diligence.

“Please accept the assurances of the esteemed regards of the National Security Adviser.”

Sources indicated that an initial attempt to deliver the letter to El-Rufai’s Abuja residence was unsuccessful. Security personnel on duty reportedly declined to receive the document. They said the chief security officer was absent and could not confirm when the former governor would be available.

The correspondence was later delivered on Sunday. It was received and signed by the head of security on behalf of El-Rufai.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Security operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday afternoon attempted to arrest former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in an incident his lawyers have described as “illegal” and a “flagrant violation of constitutional rights.”

El-Rufai arrived aboard Egypt Air flight MS 877 from Cairo, where he had undergone medical treatment. His legal team said he was met at the airport by DSS operatives who moved to arrest him without presenting any warrant or formal invitation letter.

According to a statement issued by his counsel, Ubong Esop Akpan, when El-Rufai calmly demanded to see the letter of invitation “a basic entitlement of any citizen facing state action,” none could be produced. Operatives subsequently seized his international passport, an act the lawyers termed “nothing short of stealing.”

The incident triggered a spontaneous reaction from ordinary Nigerians present at the airport, who surrounded the scene and insisted that the former governor could only be arrested upon a legitimate process. Their intervention, the statement noted, was “a testament to the citizenry’s unyielding commitment to the rule of law.”

The controversy stems from an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which was delivered to El-Rufai’s residence while he was already abroad. His lawyers described the demand for immediate attendance as “inherently illogical and impractical.”

In response, the legal team formally communicated with the EFCC on El-Rufai’s behalf since December 2025, assuring compliance upon his return. On Wednesday, they explicitly notified the anti-graft agency that the former governor would voluntarily appear at their office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.

“Resorting to arrest despite this clear commitment exemplifies arbitrary conduct and undermines procedural integrity,” Akpan’s statement read.

The legal team has issued a firm public declaration that El-Rufai “will never take the cowardly route of running away from law enforcement” and will honour “all legitimate law enforcement summons without preconditions.”

The lawyers demanded the immediate cessation of all unlawful efforts to detain their client, the immediate return of his seized passport, and a formal apology for what they described as an “egregious infringement on his dignity and rights.”

They also vowed to pursue legal action against all persons and agencies responsible for the incident, stating: “The judiciary remains the ultimate arbiter, and we shall seek redress through all available legal channels to protect the sanctity of the law.”

As of press time, the EFCC and DSS had not issued official statements regarding the incident.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has said he fears he could be arrested in the near future, citing recent actions taken against some of his political associates.

El-Rufai made this known during an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday. He suggested that the detention of individuals who worked closely with him may signal a move against him by the Federal Government.

“Four people we worked with in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” he said.

Although he acknowledged that he has not been taken into custody, the former governor insisted that the arrests of his allies point to the possibility of imminent action.

El-Rufai recently left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He described the present situation as part of what he called increasing political intimidation directed at opposition figures.

According to him, the political climate has become tense for politicians who are not aligned with the ruling party. He alleged that both subtle and open pressures are being applied to force politicians either to defect to the APC or remain within it.

He added that the atmosphere has pushed many political actors into making decisions out of necessity rather than personal conviction. In his view, concerns about safety and political survival now influence alignments more than ideology.

His remarks come at a time when political defections and realignments are gathering pace ahead of future elections. While the Federal Government has not issued any official response to his claims, his comments reflect widening distrust between sections of the opposition and the ruling party.

El-Rufai’s warning that his arrest could occur “anytime” has further stirred political debate, with observers monitoring developments closely.

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the former governor also spoke about his relationship with President Bola Tinubu. He said even if he had accepted a ministerial role, he would not have remained long in the administration because of ideological differences.

“I think it’s important to make this clarification. There is an assumption that I was ever Tinubu’s friend. I was not. We never got along with Tinubu. We never had a personal relationship,” he said.

He explained that his support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election was based on party considerations rather than personal ties.

“For me, Tinubu was initially just an aspirant of the party. I was approached by certain Islamic stakeholders from the South-West and asked to support the emergence of a South-West Muslim presidential candidate,” he stated.

Reiterating his stance, he again said: “I think it’s important to make this clarification. There is an assumption that I was ever Tinubu’s friend. I was not. We never got along with Tinubu. We never had a personal relationship,” he said.

El-Rufai noted that his backing of Tinubu rested on an internal agreement within the APC on power rotation.

He said: “As one of the founders of the APC, I knew that we had an understanding with the South, specifically the South-West, that after eight years of Buhari, power would go to the South. It was a matter of principle. It wasn’t about Tinubu.”

He stated that once Tinubu emerged as the party’s flagbearer, he committed himself fully to the campaign.

“It is a principle of mine that I fight for the candidate of my party in every election to win, whether I like the candidate or not. Tinubu emerged as the candidate, and I gave everything to ensure that he won. And that’s what I did,” El-Rufai said.

Despite that support, he said differences in governance philosophy later created a divide between them.

He said: “I am in government for delivery, for results and performance. Public service is not about making money for yourself, it’s not about stealing, it’s not about appointing your cronies or your tribesmen.”

El-Rufai further revealed that he was offered a ministerial appointment. He maintained that he would not have stayed long if the appointment had been finalised.

“Even if the offer that Tinubu made to me to be a minister had gone through, I would have left the government long ago. The philosophy of this government is contrary to everything I have been taught as a Muslim, as a northerner, and as a Nigerian,” El-Rufai declared.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has brought a senior associate of former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai before a Federal High Court over an alleged ₦311 billion money laundering scheme.

Amadu Sule, Managing Director of TMDK Terminal Limited, was arraigned in Kaduna on a five-count charge.

The charges, signed by the Head of ICPC’s High-Profile Prosecution Department, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, include unlawful retention of proceeds of fraud and money laundering, contrary to the 2022 Money Laundering Act.

The case centers on over ₦311 billion traced to company accounts in Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC, and Providus Bank. ICPC alleges the funds, received from companies including INT Towers Limited and IHS Nigeria Ltd for purported petroleum product supplies, are proceeds of crime.

The commission asserts Sule “reasonably ought to have known” the money was illicit.

ICPC further accuses Sule and his company of illegally retaining hundreds of billions in tax components from the disputed deals, despite alleged awareness of fraud in the underlying transactions.

These actions, described as direct handling of illicit proceeds, could attract enhanced penalties under anti-money laundering laws.

The case has garnered significant attention due to TMDK Terminal Limited’s known long-term business and political ties to the el-Rufai family, including the former governor and his elder brother, Bashir.

The court has adjourned the matter until January 15 for the hearing of Sule’s bail application.

By Uzair Adam

Malam Nasir El-Rufai has admitted that he and other politicians supported President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election despite being aware of the controversy surrounding his academic records at Chicago State University.

In an interview with the BBC, the former Kaduna State governor explained that their backing was based on the belief that Tinubu would replicate his performance as Lagos State governor on a national scale.

“What pains me is that the government we supported, and had confidence in, is not delivering as expected. We knew about his Chicago issue, but we believed if he could do for Nigeria what he did in Lagos, it would be worth supporting him,” El-Rufai said.

After openly criticizing Tinubu’s administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), El-Rufai defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on March 10, 2025.

Since then, he has been making efforts to attract other politicians to join the party in a bid to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections.

As part of his political maneuvers, the former governor recently met with Pastor Tunde Bakare and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, a former ally of Tinubu.

He has also called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi to join the SDP.

Addressing speculation that he left the APC to contest for the presidency in 2027, El-Rufai said the decision is not his alone to make.

“It is not for me to decide; it is the party and the people who will determine that. Even when I contested for governor, it was people who met and convinced Muhammadu Buhari, and he called me to contest,” he said.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites, has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate and prosecute former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for alleged genocide and crimes against humanity targeting the movement’s members.

The petition, submitted through their lawyer Bala I. Dakum, was delivered to the office of the ICC Prosecutor and demands urgent action in the wake of years of violence directed at the Shiite community.

The petition references the 2015 Zaria massacre, in which over 1,000 members of the sect were killed by the Nigerian Army, as the starting point for a series of violent attacks on the movement.

IMN claims that El-Rufai has been responsible for a continued campaign of violence, which has led to the deaths of at least 55 more Shiites in Kaduna State alone, all while exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of worship, assembly, and expression.

The movement describes El-Rufai’s actions as part of a deliberate effort to exterminate Shiites, particularly in Kaduna State, where their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, is based.

The petition calls for an extension of the investigation to include other officials who may have aided El-Rufai in committing these alleged crimes, including past commissioners of police in the state and former Chief of Staff Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai.

IMN also expressed concern over potential future attacks, fearing that without ICC intervention, the incoming administration may enable El-Rufai’s violent actions against them to escalate.

They urge the ICC to use its authority to initiate a preliminary investigation under Article 15 of the Rome Statute, emphasizing the urgent need to prevent further violence and ensure justice for the victims of these alleged atrocities.

The petition also highlights the government’s failure to prosecute those involved in the Zaria massacre, with military officers involved in the killings reportedly being rewarded with ambassadorial positions instead of facing legal action.

IMN is calling for immediate action to hold El-Rufai accountable and prevent further escalation of violence against the Shiite community in Nigeria.

By Uzair Adam

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, has revealed that his decision to leave the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was made with the knowledge and approval of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday, El-Rufai confirmed his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, he disclosed that he sought Buhari’s counsel before making the move, emphasizing that he often consulted the former president on political matters.

“There are certain people I consult before making major decisions, and I always follow their advice. Former President Muhammadu Buhari is one of them. I met with him on a Friday, informed him about my decision to leave the APC, and asked for his prayers and blessings, which he gave,” El-Rufai said.

He also recalled instances during his tenure as Kaduna governor when he sought Buhari’s input on key appointments, including commissioner nominations.

“Before appointing my commissioners, I presented the list to Buhari for review, to check if any of them had ever insulted him. “He laughed, thanked me, and told me to proceed with my appointments,” he added.