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By Oscar Okhifo
A fierce political rift has erupted between former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, with the former governor accusing his longtime ally of abuse of office and political persecution.
In an explosive interview with DCL Hausa, El-Rufai described Ribadu as the “most wicked” official in President Bola Tinubu’s government, declaring that he was “ashamed” of their past friendship.
“Nobody is as wicked as Nuhu Ribadu in Tinubu’s administration. I feel ashamed we were ever friends,” El-Rufai said.
El-Rufai alleged that the Office of the National Security Adviser has shifted from intelligence coordination to what he termed “remote-control law enforcement.”
According to him, Ribadu instructs anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to arrest political opponents without due process.
He further accused the NSA’s office of influencing judicial proceedings by allegedly contacting judges to deny bail to suspects, describing the atmosphere in Abuja as a “dictatorship.”
Central to El-Rufai’s claims is the recent arrest of former NIMASA Director-General, Bashir Jamoh, who is under investigation by the ICPC over alleged financial irregularities during his tenure.
Jamoh was reportedly detained on February 2, 2026, in connection with allegations involving hundreds of billions of naira in disputed expenditures, including claims of inflated contracts and irregular recruitments.
However, sources within the ICPC insist the arrest followed multiple ignored invitations and was carried out in accordance with the law.
The former governor’s outburst comes amid ongoing federal investigations into his own administration.
A June 2024 report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly accused his government of mismanaging ₦423.2 billion in loans and grants. The EFCC has since invited El-Rufai and several former officials who served under him for questioning. He is expected to appear voluntarily at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on February 16, 2026.
El-Rufai has described the probe as a “witch-hunt” designed to tarnish his political future.
While his supporters frame the investigations as political persecution, several prominent Nigerians have urged him to submit fully to the legal process.
Abuja-based lawyer and human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, said what is at work for El-rufai is karma. He urged the former governor to “stop the drama and face justice” if he has nothing to hide.
Similarly, politician , activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore argued that El-Rufai must be prepared to face “a fraction of what he dished out to others” while in office.
However, political heavyweights, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, have reportedly visited the ADC chieftain in solidarity, signaling that he retains significant backing within opposition circles.
Ribadu, in a statement issued on February 12, 2026, dismissed the allegations as “baseless and misleading,” stating that he remains focused on his national security responsibilities and will not be drawn into political exchanges.
The public fallout marks a dramatic rupture in a political alliance that dates back to the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when El-Rufai served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Ribadu led the EFCC.
Whether the government will proceed with the investigations irrespective of political pressure remains to be seen. For now, what began as a war of words between former allies has evolved into a high-stakes confrontation shaping Nigeria’s political discourse.