Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that he is facing threats of arrest and possible torture at the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
He made these claims on Tuesday through a post on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), where he stated that he had been hearing such rumors since July 2024.
El-Rufai’s statement comes amid an ongoing verbal dispute between him and the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu. The conflict began after Naja’atu Muhammad, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claimed in a viral TikTok video that Ribadu had previously called President Bola Tinubu corrupt during his time as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ribadu, through his lawyer, Dr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), strongly denied the allegations, stating that he never made such remarks in public or private. He described the video’s claims as damaging and demanded a public apology and retraction.
El-Rufai, however, responded by accusing Ribadu of forgetting past events. He referenced records from the Senate and reports from 2006 and 2007 that he claims prove Ribadu made such statements against Tinubu. According to him, the Federal Executive Council’s conclusions from 2006 also contain relevant evidence.
While reacting to a comment from one of his supporters, Hon. Imran U. Wakili, El-Rufai stated that the rumors about his arrest had been circulating since the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted him for fraud last year. He alleged that those in power have tried to intimidate him into leaving the country by using various threats and warnings through his close associates.
Despite these alleged threats, El-Rufai vowed that he would not go into exile. He stated that he had been arrested and detained three times in the past by previous governments but remained undeterred.
“Dear Imran @IU_Wakilii, your post below refers. I have been hearing these same rumours of arrest, detention, and torture in some dungeon in the NSA’s office (where Emefiele was allegedly tortured to resign as CBN governor) since July 2024, when the so-called report of the Kaduna Assembly began circulating.
“They freaked out when we challenged the legality of the premeditated defamation and went to every length to compromise the judicial process. This is continuing at the Court of Appeal.
“They have sent similar messages of intimidation and threats through many of my friends, family, and political associates because they want me to go on self-imposed exile. I will not.
“I have now put all my previous academic and language-learning plans on hold and will spend more time in Nigeria than ever before. Silence is no longer golden. Inaction has never been an option,” El-Rufai posted.
He added, “The arrest, detention, and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new in human affairs. I have been arrested and detained thrice in the past for expressing my views on previous governments.
“There is always a morning after the arrest, detention, or torture, and political life continues. As for death, it comes when Allah destines it, and it is ultimately the fate of every human.
“For the attention of the pathetic characters who don’t sleep well whenever I am in Nigeria, take notice that I intend to return in time for the launch of President IBB’s memoirs, in sha Allah, scheduled for February 20.
“We depend on no one but Allah. We fear no mortal but Almighty Allah. We always hope for the best but plan for the worst. Thanks, @IU_Wakilii, for your concern, but remember that what will be, will always be.
