ALLEGED DEFAMATION: BELLO EL-RUFAI DENIES BLOGGER’S CLAIMS, CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION

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A Member, House of Representatives, representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Bello El-rufai, has denied claims made by a blogger, Sabina Nkiru, saying that “EFCC Discovers $800 Million, N700 Billion Cash, and N1Trillion Worth of Drugs at Nasir El-Rufai Son’s House in Kaduna”.

Bello who is the eldest son of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai, through his legal counsel, Seemdaw Partners, also filed a complaint to the Nigeria Police Force, Enugu State Headquarters, seeking probe into the allegations levied against him by the blogger.

The complaint dated December 5, 2024, read, “We write to you as Counsel to Honourable Bello El-Rufai, Member, House of Representatives for the good people of Kaduna North Federal Constituency (whom we shall hereinafter refer to as our Client) and upon whose specific instruction this correspondence is founded.

“Our Client’s attention has been drawn to media publication by one Sabina Nkiru made on the popular microblogging app X formerly known as twitter which is being circulated in the social media space. Sabina Nkiru made this publication using her personal account @SabinaNkiru (Nkirukamma) wherein it was stated as follows:

“Breaking News: EFCC Discovers $800 Million, N700 Billion Cash, and N1Trillion Worth of Drugs at Nasir El-Rufai Son’s House in Kaduna.

“The discovery was made after the EFCC conducted a surprise raid on the residence of the son of a former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, without prior notification. During the operation, a violent confrontation erupted between EFCC police personnel and the private security team guarding the property.

“The shootout tragically resulted in the deaths of at least two EFCC officers.

“This incident underscores the high-stakes nature of the investigation and the resistance faced by the authorities in their efforts to uncover and seize the alleged illicit assets.

Debunking the blogger’s claims, the statement went further, “Sabina Nkiru’s publication has gained wide publication and readership including by other blogs and publishers. These publications wherein our Client’s name and picture were displayed referred to him as a corrupt Nigerian leader who steals money for personal gain and drug peddler amongst other negative imputations.

“This publication has not only defamed our Client but places him in danger of enmity, public hatred, intimidation, and imminent threat to his life contrary to extant laws.

“For the records, our Client categorically denies these weighty allegations/imputations as false and a sheer attempt to tarnish his image and discredit our client’s person in his private and public life as an upstanding citizen of this great country who has served the public most of his adult life within the bounds of the law.

“In light of the foregoing, we have our Client’s instructions to lodge this formal complaint to request your esteemed office, i.e. Commissioner of Police, to cause an investigation into these weighty allegations made in the widely spread publication with utmost urgency having regard to the sensitivity of the subject, i.e. bribery, corruption and drug peddling in commercial quantities, etc. all of which have effect on the public’s perception of our Client’s office and the entire Federal House of Representatives.

“Please find attached screenshots of the post and other details of her online accounts for your reference,” the statement concluded.