Attempted arrest: El-Rufai facing karma, not persecution

Activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has said former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is facing “karma” and not persecution, amid controversy surrounding an alleged move by security operatives to seize his passport.

Adeyanju made the remarks on Friday during an appearance on ARISE PrimeTime, a current affairs programme on Arise News, where he said he was not convinced there was any concrete plan to arrest Nasir El-Rufai.

“I am not convinced there was any plan to arrest Mallam El-Rufai. He is always extremely sensational and dramatic. He knew what he was doing when he arrived; he came prepared for the cameras. I think what they wanted was to target his passport, and the DSS got his passport. If there was a plan to arrest him, they would have done that,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria’s laws provide for arrest either with a warrant issued by a court or on the basis of probable cause as permitted under extant legal provisions. He maintained that if authorities had intended to detain the former governor, there were established legal mechanisms to do so.

Adeyanju further alleged that during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, several critics were arrested without warrants. He cited, among others, former National Human Rights Commission chairman Chidi Odinkalu and Kaduna-based journalist and activist Steven Kefas as individuals who had public disagreements with the former governor.

“He was lucky that his passport was taken from him,” Adeyanju said, arguing that past actions by those in authority often shape public reaction when they themselves face scrutiny.

The activist stressed that no individual should be above the law, noting that any allegations of financial misconduct or abuse of office must be properly investigated. He urged anti-graft and security agencies not to succumb to what he described as blackmail or intimidation in the course of their duties.

“Immediately you are on the DSS watchlist, it goes without saying that they will target your passport. It has happened to Natasha Akpoti and Omoyele Sowore, and the same thing is what happened to El-Rufai. I believe they don’t want to arrest him,” he added.

Adeyanju also referenced former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, saying El-Rufai was facing similar scrutiny to other former officials.

“My call is for El-Rufai to be investigated. I am saying his rights must be respected. When they were in power, they behaved like gods; they didn’t always follow due process. Teachers went to court and obtained a restraining order against El-Rufai while he was governor not to sack them, but he proceeded with the dismissals. I am calling for him to be investigated for alleged corruption. Some of his aides have reportedly faced investigations; he should submit himself. Oppressors of yesterday cannot become heroes of today,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from El-Rufai or the Department of State Services (DSS) confirming the alleged passport seizure or any planned arrest.

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