Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has faulted the decision by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to voluntarily submit himself to security agencies ahead of his trial, describing it as a strategic misstep.
Speaking during an interview on Trust TV, Dalung alleged that authorities had initially attempted to arrest El-Rufai at an airport but backed down over fears that the move could trigger unrest.
He argued that by surrendering, El-Rufai handed the government a tactical advantage, noting that in political confrontations, individuals who voluntarily submit themselves may be exposed to undue pressure or public embarrassment.
However, Dalung offered a contrasting perspective, suggesting the move may have inadvertently worked in El-Rufai’s favour.
According to him, early surrender could have disrupted the authorities’ ability to properly assemble a case, forcing them to build allegations after taking him into custody.
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Dalung maintained that the charges against the former governor may struggle to hold up in court, insisting that the case lacks a strong legal foundation.
El-Rufai was re-arrested on February 18 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) shortly after being released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had earlier detained him over corruption allegations.
He was subsequently arraigned on charges bordering on alleged inflated severance payments amounting to over N579.7 million, as well as fraudulent dollar deposits totalling $817,900 in his account.
