By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Embattled former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that plans are underway by the Federal Government-backed agencies to arrest his elder brother, Bashir El-Rufai, in a veiled move to force him into political negotiations.
The Source reports that El-Rufai, a prominent figure in the opposition Coalition platform, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, is facing inter-agency investigations and prosecutions over multiple charges bordering on alleged money laundering, diversion of public funds and security related Offences.
The former Governor whose bail application, following his arraignment at a Federal High Court Kaduna by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, over alleged money laundering and inflation of severance package to the tune of over N579 billion, was to come up for ruling on Tuesday March 31, 2026, was however, granted bail on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother last week.
But according to him, his elder brother, who is currently outside the country, could not be part of the funeral ceremony of their mother Hajia Umma El-Rufai, owing to credible intelligence indicating that he has been penciled down for arrest by relevant Federal Government bodies.
In a video message online, El-Rufai alleged that such a sinister move is part of a well scripted plot to compel him into negotiations.
“My eldest brother,Bashir El-Rufai, couldn’t come for our mother’s funeral because we heard that they (Nigerian authorities) had planned to have him arrested when he steps foot in the country. So we asked him to stay in Cairo.
“They believe that if they arrest him, it will force me to negotiate”, El-Rufai stated.
It would be recalled that El-Rufai had a couple of weeks ago, while in custod, alleged that the ICPC had made his renounciation of active partisan politics as a necessary pre-condition for his freedom.
According to him, following his refusal to make any statements in detention, insisting instead to defend himself in court, the anti-graft Commission had made it clear that unless he reached an agreement to halt participation in political activities ahead of the 2027 polls, he will not regain his freedom.
The Source further reports that former Minister of Youths and Sports Development Solomon Dalung, had earlier stated that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is so scared of the former Kaduna state Governor that it can go to any length to keep him out of circulation .
According to him, it was a great error of judgment on El-Rufai’s part to have walked himself into the hands of security agencies the way he did on Monday February 16 2026 when he voluntarily honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
“El-Rufai made a great mistake by turning himself in to security agencies .
“The Government is really afraid of El-Rufai which is why they decided to arrest him at the airport immediately after arriving in the country from Egypt.
“But they (Government) equally knew that trying to arrest him could lead to some unintended consequences.
“So, for El-Rufai to voluntarily submit himself was a great mistake for a Comrade and a fighter to make” Dalung noted .
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