Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has raised concerns over what he described as a fresh plot to implicate him in criminal activities, warning of coordinated efforts to damage his reputation and hinder his chances of securing bail.
El-Rufai is scheduled to appear before the Kaduna State High Court on Tuesday, April 21, where Justice Darius Khobo is expected to rule on his bail application following arguments from both the prosecution and defence.
In a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, the former governor alleged “malicious orchestrations” aimed at ensuring his continued detention. He pointed to an incident on February 12, 2026, when he claimed there were plans to arrest him upon his arrival at Abuja Airport from Cairo, describing it as the beginning of a troubling pattern.
According to the statement, El-Rufai honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on February 16, after which he was detained and later transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on February 18.
His camp also criticised a recent media report alleging that gunmen attacked the residence of a key witness in the ongoing trial. The witness, Mohammed Umar Karage, was quoted as suggesting the attack might be linked to his role in the case and an attempt to silence him.
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El-Rufai, however, firmly denied any involvement, describing the allegations as false and defamatory. He argued that such claims were designed to tarnish his image and weaken his pending bail application.
“Any objective reader would recognise the clear intent behind these statements: to tarnish his reputation and justify his continued detention,” the statement said.
Maintaining his innocence, El-Rufai revealed that his legal team had been instructed to initiate defamation proceedings against the publication.
The statement further alleged that since 2023, the former governor has faced sustained attacks on his character, warning against what it described as the misuse of legal processes. It also called for strict adherence to the rule of law, insisting that he deserves the same due process guaranteed to every Nigerian citizen.
