Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged a coordinated attempt to damage his reputation following a media report linking him to an alleged attack on a court witness in his ongoing trial.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai distanced himself from the reported invasion of a witness’s residence and threatened legal action against The Nation, which published the story.
The report, published on April 18 and titled “El-Rufai’s trial: Gunmen invade principal witness home,” quoted a witness, Mohammed Umar Karage, as alleging that armed men attacked his home, suggesting a possible link to his role in the case against the former governor.
However, El-Rufai’s camp described the allegation as “false and malicious,” insisting that the publication was designed to prejudice ongoing court proceedings and undermine a pending bail application before the Kaduna State High Court.
“The clear intent is to smear Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s reputation and implicate him in serious offences without evidence,” the statement said.
El-Rufai is currently facing multiple charges in separate high courts, including allegations bordering on financial misconduct and abuse of office during his tenure as governor.
According to his legal team, he had earlier honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and was later transferred to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, where he has remained since February 18, 2026.
His aides maintain that the legal cases against him are politically motivated, describing them as part of a sustained campaign of “vilification” that began in 2023.
They also cautioned against what they termed attempts to influence judicial proceedings through media reports.