El-Rufai denies link to witness incident, threatens legal action

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has raised alarm over what he described as a coordinated effort to malign his reputation and undermine ongoing legal proceedings against him.

In a statement issued by his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, on Sunday, El-Rufai alleged that recent developments surrounding his arrest and trial were part of a broader scheme to implicate him in criminal activities.

The statement recalled that the former governor was initially targeted for arrest upon his arrival at Abuja Airport from Cairo on February 12, 2026, before honouring an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on February 16. He was subsequently detained and later transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, where he remains in custody and is facing trial in two high courts.

El-Rufai also took issue with a report published by The Nation on April 18, which detailed an alleged attack on the residence of a prosecution witness, Mohammed Umar Karage. The report suggested a possible link between the incident and the ongoing case against the former governor.

However, El-Rufai dismissed the claims as false and defamatory, arguing that the publication sought to create the impression that he was connected to the alleged attack. He maintained that he had no involvement in the incident and described the report as an attempt to damage his reputation and influence the outcome of his bail application.

The former governor said he has instructed his legal team to initiate defamation proceedings over the publication.

He further alleged that he has been subjected to sustained attacks and negative narratives since 2023, which he described as a deliberate campaign of vilification.

El-Rufai called for adherence to the rule of law, insisting that legal processes should not be used to deny individuals their rights. He urged that he be accorded fair treatment and due process as his trial continues.