A storm of controversy is brewing in Nigeria’s political sphere as Kano-based politician Najatu Muhammadu refuses to retract or apologise for her claim that Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), once accused President Bola Tinubu of corruption. The dispute has ignited intense political discourse, with former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai backing Muhammadu’s claims.
The saga began when Muhammadu, in a viral TikTok video, asserted that Ribadu—during his tenure as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)—had accused Tinubu, alongside George Akume and Orji Kalu, of corruption.
Ribadu, through his lawyer Ahmed Raji, swiftly denied the allegations, demanding a public retraction and apology within seven days, threatening legal action if Muhammadu failed to comply.
However, in an interview with journalist Kadaria Ahmed on PenTrust Media Television, Muhammadu doubled down on her claim, pressing Ribadu with a pointed question:
“Can I ask you why Nigerians should believe you? Doesn’t this raise serious morality and ethical issues about you because you are now working with the man and trying to make him the President of Nigeria?”
In response, Ribadu dismissed the accusations, stating:
“With respect, Kadaria, I did not say so. I never said he [Tinubu] is a looter of international standard or whatever. What I said, while referencing cases under EFCC’s investigation at the time, was that Tinubu’s case had international dimensions. It was not an EFCC-handled case, so I would not have much to say about it. In any case, I have never judged or sentenced an individual before taking them to court.”
Rather than backtracking, Muhammadu has remained defiant, declaring:
“I will not retract my statement, nor will I apologise for speaking the truth as I see it.”
She accused Ribadu of resorting to intimidation tactics, alleging that he planned to have her arrested or harmed.
“Over the past 48 hours, I have received multiple phone calls informing me that you, Nuhu Ribadu, seek to send your attack dogs to arrest me or harm me on Monday, February 10, 2025,” she claimed.
She further questioned the misuse of security agencies, wondering why people are notified before arrest.
“If early notification before arrest is the new standard of operations for your attack dogs, Nigerians must stop wondering why terrorists and bandits continue to evade capture while truth sayers and patriots are being oppressed, detained, and threatened.”
Muhammadu also alleged an attempt to manipulate the judiciary to silence her.
“I have just received reliable information that there is an existing attempt to subvert the judiciary to further intimidate me or force me into retracting my statement.”
Criticising Ribadu’s role as NSA, she declared:
“This undemocratic abuse of office by Nuhu Ribadu simply underscores his failure as the NSA. He has failed the nation, he has failed his masters, and he has failed himself.”
Despite the threat of legal action, Muhammadu insisted she would not back down.
“No amount of intimidation will stop me from speaking the truth and telling those in power the truth. The truth today is that Nuhu Ribadu is an absolute failure who has no track record of success as NSA. Shikenan.”
Adding more weight to the controversy, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has publicly backed Muhammadu’s claims, saying that Ribadu must be suffering from “serious amnesia” for denying them.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), El-Rufai insisted that Ribadu had indeed accused Tinubu of corruption while leading the EFCC in 2006.
“Najatu’s statement is accurate. The record of proceedings in the Senate will confirm that Nuhu made those statements sometime in 2006.”
He posted a 2007 newspaper article from Daily Trust as further evidence, stating:
“The subsequent Daily Trust report from February 2007 reconfirms the essence of the statements.”
El-Rufai further claimed that official government records would back Muhammadu’s allegations.
“The conclusions of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2006, which can be subpoenaed from the Cabinet Secretariat of the SGF’s office, contain the allegations,” he stated.
According to El-Rufai, during a special FEC meeting in 2006, Ribadu’s EFCC had presented similar accusations against multiple government officials, including Tinubu.
“In that special FEC meeting, in which I was a member, Nuhu’s EFCC made similar presentations accusing many sitting officials sometime in 2006.”
With Muhammadu standing her ground, Ribadu maintaining his denial, and El-Rufai backing the allegations, this political firestorm is far from over.
Will Ribadu follow through with his legal threat? Will Muhammadu face arrest or persecution for her claims? And how will this controversy impact Tinubu’s presidency?
As Nigerians watch closely, the battle lines have been drawn. One thing is clear: Najatu Muhammadu shows that she is not backing down no matter what.
PIONEER NEWS 