El-Rufai

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.