El-Rufai Speaks Out: EFCC Arrests Were Directed By NSA, Ribadu Once A Friend Now ‘Wicked

Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has accused the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, of allegedly ordering arrests without proper investigation.

El-Rufai made the claims during an interview with DCL Hausa, asserting that the NSA oversteps his constitutional authority.

“Nuhu Ribadu just picks up his phone and calls any security agency to arrest anyone without any investigation,” he alleged.

The former governor was careful to clarify that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not involved in such actions. “I am not saying President Tinubu makes the call,” El-Rufai emphasized.

He explained that the NSA’s role is purely advisory. “It is not the NSA’s job to direct the EFCC to arrest someone. His duty is to advise the President on security matters. If he identifies a potential threat, he should alert the President, who can then order an investigation,” he said.

El-Rufai also claimed that Ribadu interferes in judicial proceedings, influencing bail decisions. He alleged that the NSA pressures judges not to grant bail to suspects who, in his view, were not properly investigated initially.

“I feel ashamed when I remember he was once my friend,” El-Rufai said, adding, “Nobody is as wicked as Nuhu Ribadu in Tinubu’s administration.”

He further referenced the reported arrest of former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Bashir Jamoh, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Kaduna State.

“He is lying. They have not stopped. Even last week, they arrested Bashir Jamoh. What did he do?” El-Rufai questioned.

He alleged that Jamoh remains in detention, in violation of constitutional provisions requiring that anyone arrested be charged to court within 48 hours.