El-Rufai: My ex-commissioner arrested for defecting to SDP

Immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has raised the alarm over the arrest of his former commissioner, Malam Jafaru Sani.

El-Rufai on Thursday March 13 alleged that Jafaru was arrested for money laundering charge by the Kaduna State Government.

He, however, stated that Jafaru’s real crime is his resignation from the Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

El-Rufai had on Monday defected to the SDP.

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Jafaru was nominated for ministerial appointment representing Kaduna after El-Rufai failed security screening. His nomination was not considered.

Speaking on the arrest, El-Rufai said: “Our colleague and versatile former commissioner during the El-Rufai Administration – Mallam Jafaru Sani has been abducted in Kaduna by kidnapping gang claiming to be the police, this afternoon!

“Jafaru was remanded in prison custody by a magistrate without any police first information report or charges by the State Ministry of Justice.

“On inquiry, we have learned that Jafaru is being charged with money laundering – a federal offense that neither the State Judiciary or even the Police have jurisdiction to adjudicate or investigate.

“Jafaru’s real crime is his resignation from the APC, and joining the SDP. He was proposed as the replacement ministerial nominee representing Kaduna State in August 2023.

“The tactics are similar to those used against another colleague of ours – Bashir Saidu when he was abducted on the 31st of December, 2024, and kept in captivity for 50 days before he was released on bail!

“The ignominious role of some henpecked and compromised magistrates and high court judges in the Kaduna State judiciary remains a source of great concern to us.

“We are watching and waiting as no condition is permanent, and there will be accountability for all decisions and actions, one day, soon.”