“They plan to arrest my brother to make me negotiate” – Nasir El-Rufai

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that security operatives intended to arrest his elder brother, Bashir El-Rufai, if he had travelled to Nigeria for their mother’s burial.

He claimed the move was aimed at using Bashir’s detention as pressure to force him into negotiations.

In a video statement, El-Rufai said his brother stayed away from the funeral after receiving intelligence about the alleged plan.

“My elder brother Bashir El-Rufai couldn’t make it because we learned that there is a plan to arrest him because they believe if they get him, I will negotiate,” he said.

The development followed the death of their mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who died in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday. Her body was later brought to Abuja and buried on Sunday.

Her burial came as El-Rufai continues to face legal proceedings linked to allegations of corruption and money laundering. He was recently detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and later arraigned before a Federal High Court in Kaduna on a 10-count charge.

The court adjourned the matter to March 31, 2026, for hearing of pending applications, including his bail request. He was temporarily released from custody to attend his mother’s burial.