Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has called for the prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, reviving allegations linked to El-Rufai’s eight-year administration.
In a Facebook post published on Friday, Omokri questioned El-Rufai’s record in office, citing alleged human rights abuses, suppression of political opposition, and the demolition of properties said to belong to perceived critics. He argued that the former governor should face legal scrutiny over decisions taken during his tenure.
Referencing the 2015 Zaria crisis, Omokri shared an image of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and described his condition at the time as disturbing. He alleged that hundreds of members of the Islamic Movement were killed during the unrest, a figure that has remained the subject of public debate and conflicting reports over the years.
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Omokri also mentioned the case of Abubakar Idris, known as Dadiyata, who was abducted in 2019 and remains missing. He further claimed that several journalists and activists were arrested or pressured during El-Rufai’s administration. Among those he named were Jacob Onjewu Dickson, Segun Onibiyo, Midat Joseph and Audu Maikori, the latter of whom he said later left Nigeria.
The former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan accused El-Rufai of demolishing properties allegedly linked to political opponents, including Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi and Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir. He also referenced allegations raised by the Kaduna State House of Assembly concerning the alleged diversion of ₦423 billion, insisting that the former governor should submit himself to due process if invited by law enforcement agencies.
Omokri dismissed claims that El-Rufai is being politically targeted, arguing instead that accountability is necessary in a democratic system and that no public official is above the law.
The renewed controversy follows reports of an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport involving El-Rufai and operatives of the Department of State Services. Supporters of the former governor alleged that security officials attempted to detain him upon his return from Cairo. They claimed there was no formal warrant or prior invitation, and that his international passport was temporarily seized.
As of press time, there has been no official statement from El-Rufai directly addressing Omokri’s latest comments. The unfolding exchanges have once again placed the former governor at the center of national debate over governance, accountability and the rule of law in Nigeria.
