Fresh plot to arrest, keep me in prolonged detention in works – El-Rufai raises alarm

Ex-governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has alleged that fresh plot to arrest and detain him for a longer period of time is in the works by some elements who would stop at nothing to link him with criminal activities.

Those elements he asserted are currently working in a coordinated manner to tarnish his image in order to create an occasion to arrest him.

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The ex-governor who is an opposition figure likened to the plot where he was marked for arrest upon his return Cairo, capital of Egypt, insisting that there were “malicious orchestrations” targeted at damaging his reputation.

In a statement on Sunday, April 19, 2026, he expressed concern that gunmen invaded the residence of a principal witness in the ongoing trial of him at the Kaduna State High Court.

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Narrating his ordeal in hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, he said: “I honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on February 16, after which I was detained.

El-Rufai said he was subsequently transferred to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on February 18.

The former governor’s latest concern stems from a report alleging that gunmen invaded the residence of a principal witness in an ongoing trial at the Kaduna State High Court.

The report quoted one Mohammed Umar Karage as suggesting the attack could be linked to his role in the case and might be an attempt to silence him.

El-Rufai’s camp, however, rejected any connection to the incident, accusing the publication of making “false imputations” against him.

“Any objective reader would recognise the clear intent behind these statements: to tarnish his reputation and justify his continued detention,” the statement said.

The camp argued that the report was deliberately crafted to smear his image and undermine his pending bail application.

Maintaining his innocence, El-Rufai described himself as a law-abiding citizen with no link to the alleged attack.
He revealed that his legal team had been instructed to initiate defamation proceedings against the newspaper involved.

The statement further alleged that the former governor has been subjected to a sustained campaign of “innuendos and vilification” since 2023.

It warned against the misuse of legal processes, stressing the need to uphold the rule of law.

“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.

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