There are fresh plots to implicate me – El-Rufai 

Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State governor, has raised concerns over what he described as a renewed plot to implicate him in criminal activities, alleging a coordinated effort to tarnish his image and prolong his detention.

In a statement on Sunday through his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai alleged that recent developments indicate attempts to malign him and undermine his legal rights.

He recalled an incident on February 12, 2026, when he was allegedly targeted for arrest upon arrival at Abuja Airport from Cairo, describing it as part of a wider pattern of intimidation.

The former governor said he later honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, after which he was detained and subsequently transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on February 18.

His concerns were further heightened by a recent report alleging an attack on a principal witness in an ongoing case at the Kaduna State High Court, which his camp said was being wrongly linked to him.

El-Rufai’s team dismissed the allegations as false and malicious, insisting that the report was designed to damage his reputation and influence ongoing legal proceedings.

“Any objective reader would recognise the intent to tarnish his image and justify continued detention,” the statement said.

He maintained his innocence, stressing that he has no connection to the alleged incident, and disclosed that his legal team has been instructed to initiate defamation proceedings against the publication.

The statement further alleged that he has faced sustained political and media attacks since 2023, despite what it described as his record of public service.

It cautioned against the misuse of legal processes, stressing that the rule of law must not be weaponised as an instrument of oppression.

“El-Rufai is entitled to full due process as guaranteed to every citizen under the law, and any continued disregard for his rights must stop immediately,” the statement added.