Ogona Anita
Former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai has alerted the public to what his legal team describes as a sustained campaign of vilification, specifically denying any connection to a reported home invasion of a prosecution witness.
In a statement shared with Okay News on Sunday, April 19, 2026, through his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai condemned a report published by The Nation newspaper on April 18. The article alleged armed individuals had invaded the residence of Mohammed Umar Karage, a witness in the ongoing corruption proceedings against the former governor at the Kaduna State High Court. According to the report, Karage linked the incident to his role as a witness in a count involving the alleged unlawful revocation of land.
El-Rufai, who has been in detention since February 2026, characterized the publication as a “reprehensible tactic” intended to smear his reputation and jeopardize his pending bail application, which is scheduled for a ruling on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The statement clarified that El-Rufai is a “law-abiding citizen” with no connection to the incident and confirmed he has already instructed his legal team to initiate defamation proceedings against the newspaper.
The former governor’s legal troubles began on February 12, 2026, with an attempted arrest at Abuja Airport upon his arrival from Cairo. He later honored an EFCC invitation on February 16 before being transferred to ICPC custody on February 18. El-Rufai is currently facing charges bordering on alleged fraud, abuse of office, and financial irregularities—including claims related to N289.8 million in severance pay and N11 billion in rail project funds—all of which he has denied.
Muyiwa Adekeye emphasized that the rule of law must not be perverted into a “tool of oppression” and called for the immediate cessation of the persistent disregard for El-Rufai’s fundamental rights while he stands trial.
The Kaduna State High Court is expected to rule on the former governor’s bail application later this week.
