Activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has said former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is experiencing “karma” rather than persecution following reports that security operatives allegedly moved to seize his passport.
Speaking on ARISE PrimeTime, a current affairs programme on Arise News, Adeyanju said he was not persuaded that there was any concrete plan to arrest the former governor.
“I am not convinced there was any plan to arrest Mallam El-Rufai. He is always extremely sensational and dramatic. He knew what he was doing when he arrived; he came prepared for the cameras. I think what they wanted was to target his passport, and the DSS got his passport. If there was a plan to arrest him, they would have done that,” he stated.
According to Adeyanju, Nigerian law provides clear procedures for arrest — either through a warrant issued by a court or on the basis of probable cause under existing legal provisions. He maintained that if authorities truly intended to detain El-Rufai, there are established legal mechanisms that could have been followed.
The lawyer further alleged that during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023, several critics were arrested without warrants. He mentioned former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, as well as Kaduna-based journalist and activist Steven Kefas, as individuals who publicly disagreed with the former governor.
“He was lucky that his passport was taken from him,” Adeyanju said, arguing that past actions of those in authority often influence public reactions when they themselves come under scrutiny.
He stressed that no individual should be above the law and insisted that any allegations of financial misconduct or abuse of office must be thoroughly investigated. Adeyanju also urged anti-graft and security agencies not to yield to what he described as blackmail or intimidation while carrying out their responsibilities.
Referring to the Department of State Services, he said, “Immediately you are on the DSS watchlist, it goes without saying that they will target your passport. It has happened to Natasha Akpoti and Omoyele Sowore, and the same thing is what happened to El-Rufai. I believe they don’t want to arrest him.”
Adeyanju also made reference to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, noting that El-Rufai was now facing scrutiny similar to that experienced by other former public office holders.
“My call is for El-Rufai to be investigated. I am saying his rights must be respected. When they were in power, they behaved like gods; they didn’t always follow due process. Teachers went to court and obtained a restraining order against El-Rufai while he was governor not to sack them, but he proceeded with the dismissals. I am calling for him to be investigated for alleged corruption. Some of his aides have reportedly faced investigations; he should submit himself. Oppressors of yesterday cannot become heroes of today,” he added.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from El-Rufai or the Department of State Services confirming the alleged seizure of his passport or any planned arrest.
Adeyanju: El-Rufai Facing ‘Karma,’ Not Persecution, Amid Passport Seizure Controversy
