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Kaduna Gives El-Rufai One Week to Prove N1bn Bandits Payment Claim
Kaduna politics just entered yet another dramatic chapter, one filled with bold accusations, strong denials, and a government demanding hard evidence within days. At the centre of the storm is former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, whose recent allegation about a supposed ₦1 billion payment to bandits has triggered a firestorm of reactions and a stern ultimatum.
What looked like a simple political jab has now spiralled into a full-blown confrontation, with the current Kaduna State Government giving El-Rufai one week to provide proof or publicly retract his claim, or prepare for legal consequences. So what exactly happened, and why does this matter beyond Kaduna? Let’s break it down.
Former governor El-Rufai made headlines recently when, during an interview on Channels Television, he alleged that the Uba Sani administration approved a ₦1 billion payment to bandits as part of security arrangements. In a country already grappling with insecurity, ransom payments, and trust deficits between citizens and leaders, this type of allegation is no small claim. It’s explosive. And Kaduna State’s response was immediate and uncompromising.
Kaduna Government Responds: “Reckless, Baseless, Deliberately Misleading”
In a strongly worded statement released on Sunday, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shu’aibu (SAN), dismissed El-Rufai’s allegation as false, politically motivated, and dangerously irresponsible.
His words were anything but subtle. Shu’aibu accused the former governor of “weaponising a sensitive security issue for political grandstanding,” adding that such behaviour falls far short of the moral and civic obligations expected from someone who once occupied Kaduna’s highest office. He also drew a clear red line: “Not one naira. Not one kobo.” That was his emphatic declaration that Governor Uba Sani has never authorised or approved a single payment to criminal groups. According to him, the allegation is not only untrue, it is deeply damaging.
To show just how seriously it views the matter, the government didn’t stop at denial.
El-Rufai has one week to do one of the following:
- Present solid evidence—bank records, memos, security documents or
- Tender a public apology
If he doesn’t, the government stated clearly that legal action will follow. This is unprecedented. Rarely does a sitting government publicly challenge a former governor in this manner, especially on a matter tied to national security.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time El-Rufai is making a claim like this. According to the Kaduna State Government, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had previously dismissed similar allegations made by him in September 2025.
ONSA reportedly described the allegations as unfounded, inconsistent with national security practices, and misaligned with how federal and state governments approach security operations. The government emphasized again that no tier of government in Nigeria pays ransom to criminal groups. This creates an even bigger question: Why does El-Rufai keep returning to this narrative?
In its response, the Kaduna Government took time to highlight its own approach to security, a model built around community engagement and socioeconomic rebuilding instead of ransom deals.
The administration says it is focusing on:
- Strengthening military presence
- Partnering with credible local community leaders
- Reopening schools, farmlands, and markets
- Increasing access to healthcare and education
- Boosting economic opportunities for vulnerable groups
The key message? “The state engages communities, not bandits.” This is a quiet but clear indictment of the insecurity challenges that escalated during El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure, periods marked by widespread attacks, kidnappings, and community displacements.
Perhaps the most ironic twist in this saga is that local groups who suffered heavily during El-Rufai’s time in power have openly rejected his claims. The Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance, for instance, called his statements misleading. This is significant, not only because they have firsthand experience with the region’s insecurity, but because they rarely comment on political disputes. Their reaction gives more weight to the government’s position and raises doubts about El-Rufai’s motives.
The government also took a subtle yet pointed swipe at the former governor by referencing accusations made by senior officials from his own inner circle, who at different times alleged that El-Rufai himself used state funds to “appease certain groups” during his tenure. While these claims were never thoroughly investigated or proven, bringing them up now paints El-Rufai’s current allegations as “deeply paradoxical,” if not outright hypocritical.
Since taking office, Governor Uba Sani’s administration says it has focused on stabilising communities, restoring disrupted public services, and rebuilding trust among previously divided ethnic and religious groups. Schools that were once shut due to heavy insecurity are reopening. Markets that were risky to enter are coming back to life. Farmers who fled their land are gradually returning. In short, the government says it is rebuilding, not politicising. And that’s part of why it views El-Rufai’s comments as not just false, but harmful.
This controversy goes beyond a he-said-she-said exchange. It speaks to a larger national issue: How do leaders talk about security challenges without worsening them? Nigerians have seen how easily rumours can inflame fears, distort facts, and undermine ongoing security efforts. For a former governor to make such a claim, especially without hard evidence, carries enormous weight and enormous consequences.
Which is why Kaduna State says it will not be distracted by what it calls “politics of bitterness, fear mongering, or orchestrated falsehoods.” The clock is now ticking for Nasir El-Rufai.
Will he bring evidence? Will he apologise? Or will this crisis escalate into a legal battle watched by the whole nation? Whatever happens, one thing is clear: Kaduna is not treating this as mere political banter. It is a fight for credibility, governance integrity, and public trust.
And the outcome will echo far beyond the state.
