*Says Ribadu’s Intercepted Calls Exposed Plot To Arrest Me
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Former governor of Kaduna State and ex-minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, has given a detailed and explosive account of what he described as an attempted abduction by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.
Speaking exclusively on Arise TV’s Prime Time Special, El-Rufai revealed that as soon as he disembarked the aircraft, a well-dressed young man approached him, identifying himself as a DSS operative and requesting that the former governor accompany him to their office. El-Rufai said he asked for a letter of invitation, but the operative claimed his superiors had it.
“I said I’m going through immigration. I have to do that. Just get me the letter. As I started going, more and more people came out. Apparently they had moved about 50 DSS operatives to the airport with the specific instructions that I should be detained. I should be abducted and detained.”
El-Rufai recounted how two senior officers attempted to physically redirect him away from the immigration counter, but he stood his ground, insisting on his constitutional rights. He told the operatives in no uncertain terms that even the president could not compel him to do anything against his will in a democratic country.
“Even the president cannot tell me I have to do anything. It’s a free country. It’s a democratic country. And I don’t have to do anything that I do not wish to do. So you are just a middle level or senior civil servant. The president cannot tell me what to do. Don’t say I have to. It’s inappropriate language.”
The former governor disclosed that after successfully passing through immigration and having his passport stamped, the operatives attempted a second strategy. He said an immigration officer, whom he described as a “surrogate,” demanded to re-examine his passport. El-Rufai refused to hand it over, stating that once stamped, the passport is his private property. However, one of his aides took the passport from him, and DSS operatives subsequently beat the aide and seized the document.
“One of my aides quickly took it away from me, maybe thinking that he would protect it better. That’s the aide that got beaten up. And they seized the passport from him. They beat him up. If I had the passport with me, I would not be talking to you right now.”
In the most explosive revelation of the interview, El-Rufai directly accused the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of personally ordering the attempted arrest and detention at the airport. He stated that intelligence sources within the DSS had confirmed to him that Ribadu gave the directive.
“Nuhu Ribadu made the call and ordered that I be abducted and detained by the DSS. These are people I know. Intelligence officers told me that Ribadu gave the order.”
El-Rufai went further, describing what he characterised as a pattern of vindictive behaviour by Ribadu, alleging that the NSA had been behind multiple acts of harassment against him. He also alleged that Ribadu had previously confessed to President Tinubu and the former Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, that the allegations against El-Rufai were fabricated.
“Ribadu went to the President and to the former Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and told them point blank that he was behind the campaign against me, and that the allegations were all fabricated. He confessed. Gbajabiamila came to my house and told me this in person.”
On the ongoing Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation, El-Rufai disclosed that his legal team had already been in communication with the anti-graft agency and that he had voluntarily agreed to appear on February 16th. He argued that the airport incident was therefore completely unnecessary and pointed to a political motive behind the attempted arrest.
El-Rufai explained that the EFCC’s case against him centred on a foreign exchange transaction involving approximately $572 million that was allocated and spent during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State. He insisted that the expenditure was lawful, properly appropriated by the state legislature, and audited by the Kaduna State Auditor General, noting that the auditor’s report had been submitted to the state legislature.
“The money was appropriated by the state legislature. It was audited by the state auditor general. The auditor general’s report has been submitted to the legislature. The federation account allocation committee gave the allocation. It was spent on items in the budget. Where is the crime?”
He further argued that if there was any question about the propriety of the spending, the appropriate body to investigate would be the Kaduna State House of Assembly, not the EFCC, since the funds were state allocations subject to state legislative oversight.
El-Rufai also disclosed that the EFCC had previously written to the Kaduna State Government requesting information on expenditure during his tenure, and that all the documents had been provided. He challenged the EFCC to present any evidence of misappropriation.
El-Rufai revealed that his younger brother, Bello El-Rufai, had been arrested by the DSS and detained for five days without access to family or legal representation. He said his brother was simply told that he was being held because of his relationship with the former governor.
“My younger brother, Bello, was picked up by the DSS. They kept him for five days. They didn’t tell him what his offence was. They just said ‘because of your brother.’ Because of your brother? That is collective punishment. It is unconstitutional.”
He further alleged that DSS operatives had been monitoring his family, including parking vehicles near his home and conducting surveillance. He claimed that even guests who visited his house were sometimes followed and questioned afterward.
In some of the strongest language ever used by a former political ally against the Tinubu administration, El-Rufai launched a withering critique of the government, describing it as autocratic, vindictive, and characterised by unprecedented levels of corruption and incompetence.
“The evil that this government is capable of is beyond your imagination. This is the most corrupt government in the history of Nigeria. They are buying up people, buying up legislators, buying up judges, and using state institutions to persecute anyone who disagrees with them.”
El-Rufai accused the administration of weaponising anti-corruption agencies against political opponents while shielding allies from scrutiny. He cited examples of politically exposed individuals who had defected to the ruling APC and had their legal cases suddenly dropped or stalled.
“Show me one person that has crossed to APC whose case has continued. There is a governor that is being investigated, he moved to APC, case closed. There is another one, case closed. But if you remain in the opposition, they will hound you. That is not anti-corruption. That is political persecution.”
He alleged that the government was engaging in massive corruption through fraudulent contracts, the purchase of overpriced military equipment, and the diversion of public resources. El-Rufai stated that the administration was spending lavishly on propaganda while ordinary Nigerians suffered severe economic hardship.
“There is so much stealing going on. They brought military equipment from Russia at inflated prices. They are awarding contracts at multiples of the actual cost. Where are the anti-corruption agencies on these matters? The EFCC is busy chasing opposition figures while the ruling party loots the treasury.”
In a remarkably candid admission, El-Rufai expressed deep regret over his role in supporting President Tinubu’s emergence as president. He acknowledged that he had played a significant part in building the political coalition that brought the current administration to power and stated that the outcome had been a disaster for Nigeria.
“My biggest political regret, and I have said this before, is that I contributed in forcing this disaster on Nigerians. I would have retired to Egypt, writing my books and completing my PhD. But what is happening has brought me back because the country is in bad shape and every Nigerian is suffering.”
He recounted how, despite his initial reservations, he had worked to convince northern political leaders to support Tinubu’s candidacy. He said the outcome had vindicated those who had warned against the choice.
El-Rufai addressed speculation and reports suggesting that his extended stay abroad was for medical treatment, dismissing these claims as a deliberate attempt by the government to create a false narrative. He said his travel was primarily for personal reflection, writing, and evaluation of the political year.
“I have all my medical reports that I will publish before anything happens, and they say ‘oh, he’s always had ill health.’ I have perfect health, actually. I took time off to evaluate the year, do some writing, and plan the way forward.”
On the state of the opposition, El-Rufai declared that the All Democrats Congress (ADC) was united and on course to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative to the current administration. He dismissed suggestions that the party was fractured, insisting that the leadership was focused and determined.
“The leadership of the ADC is one. We are focused. We are determined. All those with presidential aspirations have agreed that whoever emerges in free, fair, and transparent primaries will be supported by all. And this government is gone, by the grace of God.”
He disclosed that the party had kicked off a nationwide membership revalidation, mobilisation, and registration exercise. He said this would be followed by congresses, election of new party leaders, a non-elective convention to promulgate a new party constitution, and eventually primaries to select candidates.
El-Rufai acknowledged that the party had lost some momentum between July, when it was unveiled, and the end of the year, but expressed confidence that they would catch up and surprise both the government and the public.
“At the grassroots, where it matters, at the polling units, in the wards, we have penetrated every part of Nigeria. What the people of Nigeria are looking forward to is for us to give them a decent and electable candidate.”
When asked about the proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 before the United States Congress, which named Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso in connection with alleged religious freedom violations, El-Rufai urged Nigerians to exercise caution and not be used as pawns in American domestic politics.
“This whole Christian genocide stuff and the latest bill is just the Republicans playing to their base, the Christian evangelical base in the U.S. It has nothing to do with Nigeria. It has nothing to do with genuine concern. This is domestic politics in the U.S.”
However, El-Rufai expressed deep concern about the inability of the Nigerian government to protect all its citizens, whether Christian or Muslim, describing the security architecture as having failed.
On the specific mention of Kwankwaso in the bill, El-Rufai described it as “most unfair,” noting that 12 northern states had implemented Sharia law, with Zamfara being the first. He questioned why Kwankwaso was singled out when other governors who were more aggressive in implementing Sharia were not mentioned, particularly those now aligned with the ruling APC.
“I cannot think of anyone else behind it. The governors that actually strictly implemented Sharia, like those from Zamfara, are in APC. Nobody is mentioning them. But Kwankwaso, who has refused to move to APC, is being targeted. It makes me want to ask questions.”
He suggested that the Tinubu government might be behind the targeting of Kwankwaso, possibly using lobbying funds, because the former Kano governor had refused to defect to the APC and was rumoured to be joining the ADC.
When pressed directly on whether he intended to run for president, El-Rufai was characteristically measured but did not rule it out entirely. He stated that he had not made a decision to run and that several other aspirants within the party could do a good job.
“The decision to run for president has not been made by me. I have not made a decision to run. But you never say never in politics. And 24 hours is a long time. Even if I tell you I will not run today, tomorrow it can change.”
He explained that if the collective leadership of the ADC came to him and asked him to run because other aspirants had stepped aside, he would consider it. However, he emphasised that as of the moment, running for president was not in his playbook.
In a chilling segment of the interview, El-Rufai expressed concern for his personal safety, stating that he believed the current administration was capable of extreme measures against perceived opponents. He issued a public warning, placing the responsibility for his safety squarely on the government.
“I want Nigerians to know that I am in perfect health. I have published all my medical reports. If anything happens to me, hold this government responsible. They have the motive. They have the means. And they have demonstrated a willingness to do whatever it takes.”
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