There Are Fresh Plots To Tarnish My Reputation — El-Rufai
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged a coordinated attempt to damage his reputation following reports linking him to an alleged attack on a prosecution witness.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai denied any involvement in the incident, describing the claims as malicious.
The statement referred to a report published by The Nation on April 18, titled “El-Rufai’s trial: Gunmen invade principal witness home,” which alleged that a witness in an ongoing case reported an attack on his residence and suggested a link to his testimony involving the former governor.
Adekeye said the publication contained “innuendos suggestive of a plot to frame Malam Nasir El-Rufai,” insisting the claims were aimed at damaging his reputation.
“Any objective reader would recognise the clear intent behind these statements: to smear Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s reputation, jeopardise his pending bail application at the Kaduna State High Court, and implicate him in serious capital offences,” the statement said.
El-Rufai maintained that he has “no connection whatsoever to the incidents described” and has instructed his legal team to initiate defamation proceedings.
The statement also outlined recent developments involving the former governor, noting that he was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026, after an earlier attempt to arrest him at the Abuja airport.
He was subsequently detained and later transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), where he remains in custody and has been arraigned before two separate high courts.
According to the statement, the situation forms part of what it described as a sustained pattern of targeting the former governor since 2023.
“Since 2023, Malam El-Rufai has been subjected to an appalling and sustained campaign of innuendos and vilification,” it said.
It added that due process and the rule of law must be respected.
“The rule of law must never be perverted into a tool of oppression. Legal processes should serve the ends of justice, not be employed to deny a citizen his fundamental right to liberty while he stands trial,” the statement added.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
