Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that security operatives planned to arrest his elder brother, Bashir, as a strategy to pressure him into negotiations.
Speaking in a video, the African Democratic Congress chieftain said his brother deliberately stayed away from Nigeria to avoid being detained during their mother’s burial.
According to El-Rufai: “My elder brother Bashir El-Rufai couldn’t make it because we learned that there is a plan to arrest him because they believe if they get him, I will negotiate.”
Their mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, passed away in Cairo, Egypt, and was later buried in Abuja on Sunday.
Her death came amid El-Rufai’s legal troubles, following his arrest and detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations of corruption and money laundering.
He was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Kaduna on March 24 on a 10-count charge, with proceedings adjourned to March 31, 2026, to hear pending applications, including his bail request.
El-Rufai was, however, granted temporary release from custody to attend his mother’s burial.