The Kaduna State Government has dismissed as “reckless and unfounded” the allegation by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai that the administration of Governor Uba Sani paid ₦1 billion to bandits, issuing him a one-week ultimatum to either provide evidence or publicly apologise.
El-Rufai had, during a recent interview on Channels Television, alleged that the state government under Sani authorised a huge payout to criminal groups—an allegation the government described as politically motivated and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
In a strongly worded statement on Sunday, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shu’aibu, SAN, said the former governor’s comments amounted to “a fabrication devoid of logic, context, or credibility.”
Shu’aibu said: “Governor Uba Sani has never approved, negotiated, or authorised any form of payment to bandits.
“Not one naira. Not one kobo. These allegations are malicious, irresponsible, and unbecoming of someone who once occupied the highest office in our state.”
The state government accused El-Rufai of trivialising a highly sensitive security matter for political reasons.
According to the statement, the former governor’s remarks amount to “recklessly weaponising insecurity” and undermining ongoing efforts to restore peace across troubled communities.
It added that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had previously dismissed similar claims by El-Rufai as false and inconsistent with national security protocols, which forbid ransom payments to criminal elements.
The government said its security model is built on increased military presence, strategic collaboration with legitimate community leaders, and expanded access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities—insisting that its engagements are with “communities, not criminals.”
It further accused El-Rufai of double standards, noting that some senior officials from his own administration had in the past alleged that he used state funds to appease certain groups.
“It is paradoxical that the same individual now levelling accusations cannot provide a single shred of evidence,” the statement added.
The government challenged the former governor to publicly produce verifiable evidence—bank documents, memos, or security correspondences—within seven days. Failure to do so, it said, would compel the state to initiate legal proceedings to “protect public order and institutional integrity.”
The statement stressed that the Sani administration would not be distracted by what it called “politics of bitterness and orchestrated falsehoods,” adding that its priority remains strengthening public trust and ensuring transparent governance.
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