The Presidency on Sunday accused former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, of deliberately spreading misinformation to stir political tension and divert public attention from alleged ₦432 billion corruption allegations linked to his administration in Kaduna State.
The reaction followed a letter written by El-Rufai to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in which the former governor sought clarification over an alleged procurement of Thallium Sulphate from Poland.
Responding in a post on his verified X handle, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, dismissed El-Rufai’s claims as false and fear-mongering, insisting that there was no procurement or importation of Thallium Sulphate into Nigeria through the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Ajayi further alleged that El-Rufai had already received a response from the NSA’s office but deliberately chose not to make it public.
“El-Rufai certainly got a reply to his letter from the NSA’s office, and he should be honourable enough to release it just as he mischievously released his own letter,” Ajayi stated.
According to the Presidency, El-Rufai’s actions were motivated by a dual agenda: to destabilise the political environment through deliberate misinformation and to deflect attention from corruption allegations he is currently facing in Kaduna State.
“The truth is: Mallam El-Rufai has two clear intentions behind his recent actions and tantrums. One, to create political tension in the country and damage the government through deliberate misinformation. Two, to divert attention from his domestic problems in Kaduna State, where he is facing massive corruption allegations,” Ajayi said.
The Presidency argued that the former governor was attempting to “nationalise his personal problems,” adding that Nigerians would be unlikely to sympathise with him in the face of the allegations.
It also questioned El-Rufai’s political standing in Kaduna State, noting that he had allegedly lost the support of key stakeholders despite serving two terms as governor.
The statement referenced a petition by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, noting that all 28 members of the Assembly reportedly endorsed calls for a probe into the ₦432 billion allegations.
It added that the anti-graft agencies had reportedly invited the former governor for questioning.
Urging El-Rufai to address the allegations directly, the Presidency said he should focus on responding to the investigations rather than engaging in what it described as political theatrics.
