My Ex-commissioner ‘Abducted’ For Defecting From APC To SDP— El-Rufai Slams Kaduna Governor

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has attributed the arrest of Jafaru Sani, a commissioner in his administration, to his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and subsequent defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

El-Rufai asserted that Jafaru Sani was taken away in broad daylight by persons falsely presenting themselves as police officers on the order of Governor Uba Sani of the state.

He said the incident mirror a previous case involving another of his former officials, Bashir Saidu, who was allegedly detained for 50 days before being granted bail.

“Mallam Jafaru Sani has been abducted in Kaduna by Uba Sani’s kidnapping gang claiming to be the police, this afternoon!” El-Rufai said.

According to El-Rufai, Jafaru Sani was later remanded in prison custody by a magistrate without any formal charges or a First Information Report (FIR) from the police or the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice.

The former governor further revealed that Jafaru is now facing money laundering charges — an offense he argued is beyond the jurisdiction of the state judiciary and police.

He wrote, “Jafaru was remanded in prison custody by a magistrate without any police first information report or charges by the State Ministry of Justice.

“On inquiry, we have learned that Jafaru is being charged with money laundering – a federal offense that neither the State Judiciary or even the Police have jurisdiction to adjudicate or investigate.

“Jafaru’s real crime is his resignation from the APC, and joining the SDP – and having been proposed by me as the replacement ministerial nominee representing Kaduna State in August 2023.

“The tactics are similar to those used against another colleague of ours – Bashir Saidu when he was abducted on the 31st of December, 2024, and kept in captivity for 50 days before he was released on bail!

“The ignominious role of some henpecked and compromised magistrates and high court judges in the Kaduna State judiciary remains a source of great concern to us.

“We are watching and waiting as no condition is permanent, and there will be accountability for all decisions and actions, one day, soon.”