El-Rufai Breaks Silence: Denies Corruption Allegations, Says Uba Sani is No Longer His Friend

Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has broken his silence on the corruption allegations leveled against him by the Kaduna State House of Assembly. In an exclusive interview with Arise Prime Time, hosted by Charles Zulu, El-Rufai denied the allegations, describing them as a “political witch-hunt”.
El-Rufai also addressed his fallout with his successor, Governor Uba Sani, stating that Uba Sani is no longer his friend due to his actions. He emphasized that friendship is built on trust, loyalty, and standing by each other in difficult times.
Regarding the corruption allegations, El-Rufai questioned the credibility of the report, pointing out that he was not invited to defend himself. He argued that the report’s claim of ₦423 billion being stolen lacks evidence and that Kaduna State’s earnings during his tenure were around ₦900 billion, with over ₦500 billion spent on salaries and operational costs.
El-Rufai also accused the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) of being used to tarnish his reputation, alleging that some officials were being pressured to falsely implicate him.
The former governor maintained that he has never stolen public funds and that he and his late deputy voluntarily donated 50% of their salaries and allowances to the state government during his first term.
El-Rufai believes that the allegations against him are part of a broader political strategy, stating that some people want to run for president in 2031 and see him as a threat.
“Some people want to run for president in 2031, and they see me as a threat. That is why they are trying to destroy my reputation” he said