“I Am Ashamed We Were Friends” — El-Rufai Explodes, Labels NSA Nuhu Ribadu ‘Most Wicked’ in Tinubu’s Cabinet

ABUJA — The long-standing political brotherhood between two of Nigeria’s most powerful figures has gone up in flames. In a blistering interview that has sent shockwaves through the nation’s capital, former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has launched a “nuclear” verbal assault on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

Speaking with DCL Hausa, El-Rufai did not just criticize the current administration; he tore into the character of his former “bestie,” labeling Ribadu the most “wicked” official currently serving under President Bola Tinubu.

The “Dictator” Allegations

The former governor, who recently defected to the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), painted a grim picture of how power is being wielded within the Presidential Villa. El-Rufai alleged that the Office of the NSA has moved away from intelligence gathering and into the realm of “remote-control” law enforcement.

“Nobody is as wicked as Nuhu Ribadu in Tinubu’s administration,” El-Rufai declared with a visible sense of betrayal. “I feel ashamed we were ever friends.”

The core of El-Rufai’s accusations includes:

• Telephone Arrests: He claimed that Ribadu no longer relies on formal investigations but simply “picks up the phone” to instruct the EFCC or ICPC on which political targets to “cuff and detain.”
• Judicial Interference: In a direct hit at the independence of the bench, El-Rufai alleged that the NSA’s office frequently calls judges to block bail for suspects, even before they have been properly charged with a crime.
• Executive Overreach: He described the current atmosphere in Abuja as one of “dictatorship,” where security agencies are used as personal tools for political vendettas.

The “Bestie” Era Ends in Bitterness

For many Nigerians, the sight of these two at loggerheads is jarring. During the Olusegun Obasanjo years, El-Rufai (as FCT Minister) and Ribadu (as the pioneer EFCC Chairman) were seen as the inseparable “poster boys” of reform.

However, the political gloves are now officially off. Analysts suggest that El-Rufai’s “whistleblower” act is a calculated move to position himself as the face of the opposition ahead of the 2027 cycle, following his messy fallout with the APC power structure.

The Counter-Narrative

While the NSA’s office has officially maintained a “strategic silence,” sources within the anti-graft agencies have begun to push back.

Responding to El-Rufai’s mention of the recent arrest of former NIMASA boss Bashir Jamoh, an ICPC insider clarified that the move was strictly legal. “The former NIMASA DG ignored multiple official invitations over major fraud allegations. No one needs a ‘phone call’ from the Villa to arrest someone who refuses to honor a lawful summons,” the source noted.

A Public Divorce

Whether this is a genuine exposure of “Executive Overreach” or simply a messy political breakup playing out in the media, one thing is clear: the alliance that once defined an era of Nigerian politics is dead.

As the “Wickedness in the Villa” headline trends across social media, the public is left watching a high-stakes drama that could redefine the political landscape leading into next year.

To “dig deeper” into the escalating war of words between Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, we must look at the specific legal triggers and the underlying ₦423 billion corruption probe that has turned these former allies into bitter enemies.

1. The “Trigger” Case: The Arrest of Bashir Jamoh 

El-Rufai cited the detention of former NIMASA Director-General Bashir Jamoh as the primary evidence of Ribadu’s “remote-control” style of governance.

• The Arrest: Jamoh was intercepted by armed ICPC operatives in Kaduna on February 2, 2026, as he returned from a court engagement.
• The Allegations: He is being investigated over a massive ₦300 billion corruption petition involving “systemic financial irregularities” during his 2020–2024 tenure, including the inflated leasing of speedboats and unauthorized “ghost” recruitment of over 500 individuals.
• El-Rufai’s Spin: El-Rufai alleges that Ribadu bypassed standard investigations and simply “picked up the phone” to order the arrest to settle political scores.

2. The ₦423 Billion Shadow over El-Rufai

The federal government’s interest in El-Rufai himself stems from a June 2024 report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which accused his eight-year administration of overseeing the misappropriation of ₦423.2 billion.

• The Scope: The EFCC has assembled a high-level team to question El-Rufai, his former Finance commissioners (2015–2023), and all Accountant Generals from his tenure.
• Associates Under Fire: On January 13, 2026, the ICPC arraigned a close El-Rufai ally over an alleged ₦311 billion money laundering scheme linked to a company associated with the El-Rufai family.

3. The “Wickedness” Debate: Ribadu’s Official Rebuttal

While El-Rufai claims Ribadu is a “dictator” who influences judges to deny bail, the NSA’s office has fired back with a stance of professional detachment.

• Ribadu’s Defense: In a statement issued on February 12, 2026, Ribadu dismissed the claims as “baseless and misleading,” stating he is “too preoccupied” with national security to engage in a media fight.
• The 2031 Factor: El-Rufai previously alleged that Ribadu’s real motive is to destroy northern political rivals to clear a path for a 2031 presidential bid—a claim Ribadu has flatly denied.

Summary of Key Allegations

El-Rufai is currently scheduled to appear voluntarily at the EFCC Headquarters at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026, to address these invitations directly.