By Muhammad Mamman
The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed a three-count criminal charge against former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, escalating a high-profile legal battle that underscores President Bola Tinubu’s pledge to tighten accountability in public office.
Court documents seen by local media show that prosecutors accuse El-Rufai of multiple financial and administrative offences linked to his time in office, marking one of the most significant legal actions yet involving a former state chief executive under the current administration.
Although full details of the charges have not been officially released, sources familiar with the case say the counts relate to alleged irregularities in contract approvals and public fund management during El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure as governor.
The filing, believed to be before a federal court in Abuja, comes amid growing public pressure on the government to confront corruption, rising debt, and economic hardship that have deepened since the removal of fuel subsidies and currency reforms last year.
El-Rufai, a prominent political figure and former minister, has not publicly responded to the charges as of Monday. His associates, however, have dismissed the case as politically motivated, insisting that all decisions taken while in office followed due process.
The development adds fresh tension to Nigeria’s already polarised political landscape, with analysts warning that high-profile prosecutions must be handled transparently to avoid perceptions of selective justice.
