Bello Alhassan, Kaduna
DAILY COURIER - Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused his successor, Governor Uba Sani, of orchestrating the abduction and unlawful detention of Mallam Jafaru Sani, a former commissioner in his administration. In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, El-Rufai alleged that Jafaru Sani was forcibly taken into custody by what he described as “Uba Sani’s kidnapping gang claiming to be the police.”
According to the former governor, Jafaru Sani was remanded in prison custody by a magistrate without any formal First Information Report (FIR) or charges from the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice. He further claimed that the former commissioner was being accused of money laundering, a federal offense that falls outside the jurisdiction of the state judiciary and police.
El-Rufai suggested that the real reason for Jafaru Sani’s ordeal was his recent resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He also alleged that Jafaru was targeted due to his nomination as a ministerial replacement for Kaduna State in August 2023.
Drawing parallels to a previous incident, El-Rufai recalled that another of his former aides, Bashir Saidu, was abducted on December 31, 2024, and held in captivity for 50 days before being granted bail. He condemned what he described as the “compromised” role of some magistrates and high court judges in Kaduna, expressing deep concerns over what he termed politically motivated persecution.
The former governor ended his statement with a warning, stating that “no condition is permanent” and that those responsible for these actions would be held accountable in due time.
Governor Uba Sani’s administration has yet to officially respond to the allegations. However, the accusations have further fueled political tensions in Kaduna State, with observers noting the growing rift between the two former allies.
