Timi Frank Warns Against Abducting El‑Rufai from Court

By Omeiza Ajayi

Former All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesman Timi Frank has warned that intelligence operatives may attempt to abduct former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el‑Rufai from the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.

In a statement released early Monday, Frank said he had received information from sources that the operatives might try to arrest el‑Rufai when he appeared before Justice M.B. Idris of the Federal High Court.

“Pursuant to what appears to be a grand plan by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to politically eliminate Mallam Nasir el‑Rufai, I have been reliably informed that plans have allegedly been concluded … to forcefully take him into custody today from the Federal High Court, Abuja, where he is meant to appear,” Frank said.

He alleged that such a move would violate existing court orders that require el‑Rufai to remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) while matters before the court are decided, and that security operatives had met the previous night to finalise arrangements for the alleged plot.

Frank also expressed concern that if any attempt to silence el‑Rufai fails, the fallback plan could be to keep the former governor in prolonged detention until after the 2027 elections.

He said it was unfortunate that Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, once known as a civil‑rights activist, now appeared associated with actions many considered inconsistent with the rule of law.

The political activist, who serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, warned that any attempt to forcibly remove el‑Rufai from court premises in defiance of existing court orders would amount to an assault on the rule of law. He called on civil‑society organisations, northern leaders, religious groups and the international community to closely monitor developments surrounding the case.

“This is the time for Nigerians, northern leaders, civil‑society groups, religious leaders, and all lovers of justice and democracy to rise in one voice against oppression and selective justice,” he said.

Frank invoked the famous warning by German pastor Martin Niemöller about the dangers of silence in the face of injustice, and questioned whether el‑Rufai was being singled out among former governors currently facing scrutiny.

While stating his support for anti‑corruption efforts, he insisted such efforts must be conducted within the bounds of fairness and due process, free from political persecution.

“If anything happens to el‑Rufai, Governor Uba Sani and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must be held responsible. The President, the security agencies, and the Kaduna State Government must remember that power is transient and nothing lasts forever,” he declared.

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