By Seyi Odewale
Former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has cautioned against trivialising grave allegations involving former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, insisting that the issues at stake must be treated as legal, not political, matters.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed said the allegations exchanged between El-Rufai and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, require judicial scrutiny to establish the truth.
“The simpler way to go about this is to put all these allegations on the table,” he said.
“They are legal issues, from allegations of corruption against Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to the allegations involving Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, including the issue of imported, poisoned chemicals.
“These are weighty matters that must be brought before the judicial process. We must know the truths or otherwise of these claims. We cannot dismiss them simply because they appear political.”
The comments come amid a deepening public rift between El-Rufai and Ribadu, a dispute that has heightened tensions within Nigeria’s political landscape.
El-Rufai had alleged that Ribadu ordered his “abduction” at the Abuja airport, claiming that associates intercepted conversations in which the NSA allegedly directed security operatives to detain him.
He further accused Ribadu of influencing investigations by anti-corruption agencies and the Kaduna State House of Assembly, suggesting the actions were politically motivated and linked to a perceived 2031 presidential ambition.
The former Governor also raised concerns over the alleged procurement of thallium sulphate by the Office of the National Security Adviser, calling for transparency and official clarification.
Ribadu has denied the allegations, describing suggestions of presidential ambition as baseless and maintaining that anti-corruption agencies operate independently.
Expressing personal disappointment over the fallout, Baba-Ahmed described the deteriorating relationship between the two men as troubling for the country’s political culture.
“I am extremely saddened by the development,” he said. “I know both gentlemen and how deep their relationship was. If a relationship of this nature can degenerate to this point, then we are in very serious trouble. It is saddening to see two friends threatening legal action against each other without regard for the broader consequences.”
He also offered a candid view on how El-Rufai could manage the controversy.
“Mallam El-Rufai is a very difficult person to advise,” Baba-Ahmed remarked. “If I were to advise him, I would say limit the fronts you are fighting on. Focus on clearing yourself of allegations that you mismanaged or stole public funds.”
The clash marks a dramatic rupture in a longstanding alliance dating back to the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, from 1999 to 2007.
“During that period, Ribadu headed the EFCC while El-Rufai served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, both regarded as central figures in the reformist bloc often referred to as the “Obasanjo Boys.”
Their partnership extended beyond official roles to personal ties and mutual political support, including throughout El-Rufai’s tenure as Kaduna governor from 2015 to 2023.
What was once seen as a formidable political alliance has unravelled into a high-profile confrontation, with calls mounting for the courts to determine the facts of the explosive allegations.
