‘El-Rufai had no connection with invasion of witness’s home’
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has denied any link to the reported invasion of a witness’ residence. He faulted a report titled: “El-Rufai’s trial: Gunmen invade principal witness home,”
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has denied any link to the reported invasion of a witness’ residence.
He faulted a report titled: “El-Rufai’s trial: Gunmen invade principal witness home,” which quoted Mohammed Umar Karage as claiming that armed men attacked his residence.
The witness suggested the incident might be connected to his role as a witness in corruption charges against the former governor.
El-Rufai’s camp said the publication contained “innuendos” aimed at linking him to the incident, insisting that he had “no connection whatsoever” with the alleged invasion.
A statement yesterday by El-Rufai’s Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, distanced the ex-governor from allegations in the report published on April 18.
The statement said: “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.
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“The evident objective is to secure his indefinite detention through these reprehensible tactics. Such conduct is unacceptable, particularly toward a citizen who has made substantial contributions to our country.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai is an upstanding and law-abiding citizen who has no connection whatsoever to the incidents described in The Nation’s publication.”
The former governor is currently facing charges in two separate high courts following his detention by anti-graft agency.
He was initially invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026, and subsequently transferred to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on February 18.
Adekeye stated that El-Rufai had earlier faced what he described as an “unwarranted attempt” to arrest him upon arrival at Abuja Airport from Cairo on February 12, which he said signalled a pattern of “malicious orchestrations” against the former governor.
He added that El-Rufai remains in detention and has been arraigned on multiple charges, including allegations relating to unlawful revocation and reallocation of land.
The statement also criticised the linkage made in the report between the alleged invasion and the disappearance of Kaduna-based activist Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, describing it as an attempt to heighten suspicion against El-Rufai.
“It is one thing for a citizen to report a crime; it is another to publish false imputations against others,” the statement said.
It stressed that such claims were capable of prejudicing judicial processes and damaging reputations.
El-Rufai’s camp maintained that he is a law-abiding citizen and reiterated that he had no involvement in the alleged attack on the witness.
The statement alleged that since 2023, El-Rufai has been subjected to a sustained campaign of “vilification and innuendos,” despite what it described as his record of public service and contributions to national development.
Calling for adherence to due process, the statement cautioned against the use of legal and media processes as tools of oppression.
“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.
El-Rufai’s camp urged that he be accorded his full constitutional rights, including fair hearing and due process, as his trial continues.
