Kaduna gives El-Rufai one week to prove explosive claim that Gov Uba Sani paid ₦1bn to bandits — or face legal firestorm
The Kaduna State Government has issued a blistering ultimatum to former governor Nasir El-Rufai, giving him just one week to prove his sensational claim that Governor Uba Sani’s administration paid a staggering ₦1 billion to bandits — or publicly apologise or face legal action.
El-Rufai, during an explosive appearance on Channels Television, alleged that the current government secretly funnelled money to criminal groups as part of “security arrangements”.
But Kaduna officials have dismissed the accusation as nothing more than a politically charged fabrication.
In a strongly worded statement on Sunday, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shu’aibu (SAN), slammed the former governor’s remarks as “reckless, baseless, and deliberately misleading.”
The government accused El-Rufai of “weaponising a sensitive security issue for political grandstanding,” insisting that his comments fall far below the standards expected of a former leader.
Shu’aibu stressed that Governor Sani has never — at any time — authorised, negotiated, or paid a single kobo to criminal groups.
“Not one naira. Not one kobo,” he declared.
The statement also recalled that the Office of the National Security Adviser had previously rubbished similar allegations from El-Rufai, describing them as inconsistent with Nigeria’s security protocols, adding that neither the Federal Government nor state governments engage in cash payouts to criminals.
Kaduna’s current administration said its security strategy is anchored on military reinforcement, community engagement, and expanding access to schools, healthcare and economic opportunities.
“The state engages communities, not bandits,” it said.
Grassroots security groups — including the Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance, which suffered some of their worst attacks under El-Rufai’s watch — have also denounced his remarks as misleading.
In a pointed swipe, the government referenced earlier allegations from El-Rufai’s own former aides who accused him of using public funds to “appease” certain groups, describing his latest outburst as “deeply paradoxical.”
Since taking office, Governor Sani has focused on stabilising violence-hit communities, reopening abandoned schools and farmlands, and rebuilding trust, the statement noted — urging past officials to “show restraint” instead of stoking tensions.
The government challenged El-Rufai to present bank records, memos, or official security documents to back his accusation, noting that similar claims he made in September 2025 collapsed for lack of evidence.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, Kaduna vowed it would not be distracted by “politics of bitterness, fear-mongering, or orchestrated falsehoods.”