Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged a fresh attempt to implicate him in criminal activities, warning of what he described as a coordinated effort to damage his reputation and prolong his detention.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, the former governor raised concerns over recent developments, which he said point to a pattern of targeted actions against him.

He recalled an incident in February when he was allegedly marked for arrest upon arrival at the Abuja airport from Cairo, describing it as an early indication of the challenges he would face.

El-Rufai said he later honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on February 16, after which he was detained and subsequently transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

The latest concern, according to the statement, followed a report published on April 18 by The Nation, which detailed claims by a witness in an ongoing case before the Kaduna State High Court that gunmen had attacked his residence.

The report cited the witness, Mohammed Umar Karage, as suggesting the incident might be linked to his role in the trial and could be an attempt to silence him.

However, El-Rufai’s camp rejected any connection to the incident, describing the publication as containing false insinuations aimed at linking him to the alleged attack.

The statement argued that the report was intended to damage his public image and influence ongoing legal proceedings, including his pending bail application.

Maintaining his innocence, El-Rufai said he had no involvement in the alleged incident and directed his legal team to initiate defamation proceedings against the newspaper.

The statement also alleged that he has been subjected to sustained attacks on his reputation since leaving office in 2023, warning against the misuse of legal processes.

It called for adherence to due process and respect for his rights, stressing that the rule of law must be upheld in handling the matter.