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Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday, said he had heard rumours of his imminent arrest and torture in one of the offices of the National Security Adviser.
For days, El-Rufai and the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu’s camp have been locked in a heated verbal war after a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Naja’atu Muhammad, claimed in a viral TikTok video that Ribadu once labelled President Bola Tinubu as corrupt during his tenure as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
But in a strongly worded letter, Ribadu, through his lawyer, Dr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), refuted the allegations, insisting he never made such statements, either publicly or privately. He described the damage from the video as “unquantifiable” and demanded a public apology and retraction.
However, in a post on his X handle, El-Rufai swiftly slammed the NSA, accusing him of “serious amnesia” over his denial of past comments allegedly made against President Bola Tinubu.
“Nuhu must have serious amnesia. The record of proceedings in the Senate will confirm that Nuhu made those statements sometime in 2006. A Daily Trust report from February 2007 reconfirms the essence of the statements,” El-Rufai posted.
He further referenced the Federal Executive Council conclusions from 2006, suggesting they contain evidence of Ribadu’s allegations against Tinubu and others.
While responding to concerns raised by one of his supporters on X, Hon. Imran U. Wakili, on Tuesday morning, El-Rufai said he had been hearing rumours of his imminent arrest, detention, and torture from the NSA’s office since July 2024, when the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted him for fraud in a viral report.
El-Rufai, who revealed that he was arrested and detained three times by previous governments, vowed that he would not proceed on self-imposed exile despite the looming threat.
“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.
