The former governor expressed deep regret over his past relationship with the NSA, signaling a total breakdown in their long-standing friendship.
El-Rufai alleged that the NSA has established a pattern of bypassing standard legal procedures.
He claimed that Ribadu frequently directs security agencies to apprehend individuals before any substantive investigations have been conducted.
Beyond the initial arrests, El-Rufai further alleged that the NSA meddles in the legal system by attempting to sway the judiciary.
He claimed that Ribadu actively pressures judicial officers to deny bail to detainees, even in cases where the initial grounds for detention were flimsy or uninvestigated.
Reflecting on their history, El-Rufai did not mince words:
“I feel ashamed when I remember he was once my friend,” he said. “Nobody is as wicked as Nuhu Ribadu in Tinubu’s administration.”
To support his claims, the former governor pointed to the recent detention of Bashir Jamoh, the former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
He noted that Jamoh was picked up by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Kaduna.
El-Rufai challenged the basis of the arrest and criticized the continued detention of the former NIMASA boss:
“He's lying, they have not stopped. Even last week, they arrested Bashir Jamoh. What did he do?”
He argued that the ongoing custody of Jamoh is a direct affront to the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates that any detained person must be arraigned in a court of competent jurisdiction within 48 hours.
The outspoken former governor suggested that these tactics are part of a broader trend of intimidation.
He voiced significant concerns regarding his own liberty, hinting that he believes he may be the next individual targeted for detention by the security apparatus under Ribadu’s influence.
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