- Isaac Fayose claimed that former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai would soon face corruption charges of N2.3 billion, alleging selective prosecution of opposition figures by the ruling party
- His remarks followed an incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where El-Rufai was reportedly prevented from leaving by DSS operatives acting on alleged ICPC instructions
- Fayose cited other politicians, including Abubakar Malami, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Nyesom Wike, claiming a pattern of double standards in political prosecutions
A Nigerian businessman, Isaac Fayose, has alleged that former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai will soon face charges over an alleged N2.3 billion corruption case, amid rising political tensions.
Fayose made the claim in a video shared on his X account, where he criticised what he described as selective prosecution of opposition figures by the ruling All Progressives Congress.
His remarks follow Thursday’s incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where operatives of the Department of State Services reportedly attempted to arrest El-Rufai shortly after his arrival from Cairo, Egypt.
In a separate interview with BBC Pidgin, El-Rufai alleged that the DSS had been engaged by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to effect his arrest. The anti-corruption agency has not publicly confirmed the claim.
The attempted arrest has since sparked reactions from opposition figures and political observers, some of whom allege that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is targeting critics of the government.
In his video, Fayose questioned what he described as a pattern in which politicians who fall out with the ruling party face legal troubles. “In Nigeria, when you are in opposition, you are corrupt, but when you are in APC, you are a saint,” he said.
He further alleged that El-Rufai’s reported departure from the party had prompted renewed scrutiny. “El-Rufai quit the party for opposition and now they are about to charge him N2.3 billion for corruption,” Fayose claimed.
The businessman also referenced other political figures, including former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, alleging double standards in how political actors are treated.
There has been no official confirmation of any imminent charges against El-Rufai. Authorities have yet to respond formally to Fayose’s claims.