Detention: El-Rufai Paying Price For Misgovernance, Irresponsibility – Shehu Sani

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has said former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is “paying the price” for what he described as misgovernance and irresponsibility during his eight years in office.

Sani made the remarks on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday while reacting to concerns in some opposition circles that El-Rufai had become a “prisoner of conscience” amid his ongoing detention and legal battles.

El-Rufai has been in custody since February 2026 in connection with separate cases involving alleged financial misconduct and the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. On September 22, a Federal High Court in Abuja reserved ruling on his no-case submission in the wiretapping case and adjourned the matter until October 26.

Sani, who said he had personally spent more than four years in prison as a pro-democracy activist, said he was therefore familiar with the pains of detention.

“I think he is in detention for, like they say, 200 days or something like that. For someone like me, who has been in prison for four years, I don’t think anyone can lecture me on detention, on the pains of imprisonment, and staying in the Gulag for such a very long time.”

According to him, El-Rufai’s current situation should also be viewed against the backdrop of his conduct while serving as governor between 2015 and 2023.

Sani alleged that the former governor had little regard for the rule of law, claiming that his administration disregarded court orders and used state institutions against critics and opponents.

“El-Rufai is paying the price of his misgovernance and his irresponsibility when he was in public office,” he said.

“When you are in office, always remind yourself that it is an opportunity and it is a very temporary opportunity for you.”

The former lawmaker alleged that several individuals were arrested and detained during El-Rufai’s administration over their criticism of the government.

He cited the case of Luka Binyat, a journalist with Vanguard, whom he said was arrested and jailed after writing about the Kaduna State Government.

Sani also mentioned Christian leaders from Kajuru Local Government Area who, according to him, were arrested after protesting the killing of their leader and spent months in detention.

He further alleged that some Islamic clerics from Zaria were arrested after protesting the retrenchment of workers from the Kaduna State civil service.

Another case cited by Sani was that of John Danfulani, a lecturer at Kaduna State University, whom he said was arrested and jailed for criticising the former governor.

He also mentioned Maida Joseph, a LEADERSHIP newspaper reporter, whom he alleged was arrested over a report published by the newspaper.

Sani said members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria also spent several years in detention during the period, alleging that efforts to secure their release were frustrated.

“When people are in power, they forget that a day will come when they will be out of power.”

The former senator also rejected suggestions that El-Rufai’s record on security in Kaduna State was being unfairly criticised.

He said insecurity had affected Southern Kaduna and other parts of the state for years, alleging that the former administration failed to do enough to protect residents.

Sani was asked whether it was fair to claim that El-Rufai did nothing about insecurity, given that his administration had appointed a commissioner responsible for internal security and other measures.

In response, he maintained that the scale of violence demonstrated that the measures taken by the administration were inadequate.

“If he has done anything, the bloodshed would not have been worse as they were.”

Sani also responded to recent comments by Defence Minister Christopher Musa concerning El-Rufai’s handling of insecurity and the situation in Southern Kaduna. Musa had accused the former governor of actions that, in his view, contributed to division and insecurity in the area.

According to Sani, many Nigerians commenting on the controversy had little direct knowledge of the affected communities.

He said places including Sanga, Kauru, Kachia, Kagarko and other parts of Southern Kaduna had experienced prolonged insecurity.

“It is a fact that terrorists and bandits have been killing people in Southern Kaduna for over a decade without any intervention from the state government, Kaduna state government.”

Sani further alleged that the former administration failed to provide adequate support to security agencies operating in the affected areas.

“There was never a time where the government that was led by Nasir El-Rufai provided support for the police, for the army, for the civil defence, or take any serious measure to end that violence or to stop that bloodshed.”

He also revisited the controversy over the former governor’s reported comments on negotiating with bandits.

Sani alleged that El-Rufai had at different times made contradictory statements about dealing with banditry, describing him as a “man of double speak.”

He recalled that Binyat had previously reported allegations concerning payments to bandits and said the journalist was subsequently arrested.