El-Rufai Blasts Kaduna Government For Meddling In Corruption Trials Of His Former Aides

In a statement shared via his X account on Thursday, El-Rufai alleged that the cases against Bashir Sai’du and Jimi Lawal, both of whom served under his administration, have been politicized, targeting his loyalists for selective persecution.

The two ex-officials are currently facing corruption charges brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

On January 21, 2025, the Federal High Court in Kaduna granted bail to Lawal, a former senior adviser, along with three others charged with fraud and financial crimes. However, El-Rufai claims the Kaduna State government is ensuring only his loyalists face prosecution, while those aligned with Governor Sani’s government remain untouched.

“For clarity, it’s important to note that since early 2024, several members of my administration have been selectively summoned and interrogated by anti-corruption agencies,” El-Rufai wrote.

He further stated, “Many others have avoided scrutiny due to their roles within the Uba Sani-led Kaduna State Government or at the national level. This selective process raises serious questions about the fairness of these investigations.”

Allegations of Political Persecution

El-Rufai claimed that Sai’du was unlawfully abducted on December 31, 2024, by armed police officers allegedly acting on Governor Sani’s orders. He was reportedly rushed to a magistrate court in Rigasa, where he was remanded in Kaduna Prison until his court appearance on January 21, 2025.

“Both Bashir Sai’du and Jimi Lawal were later arraigned before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on charges filed by the ICPC. Moreover, the Uba Sani administration filed an additional case against Sai’du at the State High Court,” El-Rufai revealed.

KADGIS Accused of Obstructing Bail

Despite bail being granted with stringent conditions, El-Rufai accused the Kaduna State Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) of deliberately stalling the verification of Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O)—a critical requirement for the release of his former aides.