Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that he is being targeted in what he described as a sustained and coordinated campaign of intimidation, legal pressure, and reputational attacks.
In a statement issued through his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai expressed concern over what he termed “malicious orchestrations” allegedly directed at him, including attempts to arrest him upon arrival in Abuja earlier in February 2026.
The statement said the former governor was subsequently invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and later taken into custody before being transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), where he has since faced legal proceedings in multiple courts.
Adekeye alleged that the sequence of events, including arrests, investigations, and court cases, form part of a broader attempt to keep El-Rufai under prolonged legal and political pressure.
He referenced reports of alleged threats involving individuals connected to ongoing court cases, warning that such narratives were being used to create the impression of criminal complicity on the part of the former governor.
According to the statement, El-Rufai’s legal team has already been instructed to pursue defamation actions against media outlets and individuals making what he described as false imputations.
The former governor further claimed that since leaving office in 2023, he has been subjected to what he called a continuous campaign of innuendo and public vilification.
He maintained that he remains a law-abiding citizen and denied any connection to alleged incidents being linked to him in media reports.
“El-Rufai has no involvement whatsoever in the incidents being attributed to him,” the statement said, insisting that attempts to associate him with such matters were politically motivated.
The statement also reacted to a reported newspaper story involving a prosecution witness in a corruption-related case, which allegedly suggested possible intimidation linked to ongoing proceedings.
El-Rufai’s media office rejected any implication that he was connected to such developments, describing them as attempts to prejudice public perception and influence judicial processes.
Adekeye stressed that the rule of law must be upheld at all times and cautioned against what he described as the misuse of legal and investigative processes for political ends.
He argued that El-Rufai, like every other citizen, is entitled to due process and fair treatment under the law, warning against what he termed “the persistent disregard for his rights.”
The statement confirmed that El-Rufai has instructed his legal team to initiate defamation proceedings over the publications and claims he considers damaging to his reputation.
It also reiterated that the former governor would continue to defend himself through lawful channels while calling for restraint in public commentary on ongoing legal matters.
The development adds to the growing political tension surrounding prominent figures ahead of Nigeria’s evolving 2027 political landscape, where legal battles, party alignments, and public narratives continue to intersect.
For now, El-Rufai insists he is being unfairly targeted, while authorities and institutions named in the statement have yet to issue an official response to the latest allegations.
El-Rufai Raises Alarm Over Alleged Threats, Claims Orchestrated Campaign Against Him
