El-Rufai Alleges Plot to Implicate Him in Criminal Activities

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has issued a statement raising alarms about a purported plot aimed at implicating him in criminal activities. In a media advisory released by Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai described the situation as a coordinated effort to damage his reputation and prolong his detention.

He referenced an incident on February 12, 2026, when he was allegedly arrested upon arriving at Abuja Airport from Cairo. Following this, he was detained on February 16 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and subsequently transferred to custody on February 18 concerning independent corrupt practices.

El-Rufai's concerns were heightened by reports of gunmen invading the residence of a principal witness in an ongoing trial, which he believes is linked to attempts to silence his camp. He has rejected any connection to the incidents and accused the public of making false imputations.

El-Rufai has instructed his legal team to initiate defamation proceedings against the involved newspaper and emphasized the need to uphold the rule of law.