ABUJA – The brewing tension between the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, took a sharp legal turn this weekend as National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu directed the former governor to present his evidence of a “toxic chemical procurement” to the Department of State Services (DSS).
The directive follows a bombshell petition authored by El-Rufai on January 30, in which he alleged that the ONSA had surreptitiously procured 10 kilograms of thallium sulphate—a tasteless, odorless, and lethal chemical—from a supplier in Poland.
The Deadlock at the Gate
The exchange of correspondence between the two heavyweights took on a cinematic quality on Friday when security aides at El-Rufai’s Abuja residence reportedly blocked ONSA officials from delivering the formal reply. According to sources familiar with the matter, the guards refused to sign for the letter, claiming their head of security was unavailable.
The document, signed by Brigadier-General OM Adesuyi on behalf of Ribadu, was eventually delivered and acknowledged on Sunday morning.
The Allegations
In his initial petition, El-Rufai raised an alarm over what he termed a “grave threat” to public safety. He demanded that the NSA clarify:
- The specific end-use of the 10kg of thallium sulphate.
- Whether the procurement followed international protocols for hazardous materials.
- The involvement of regulatory bodies like NAFDAC or the NCDC in assessing the risks.
Thallium sulphate is notorious in toxicology as the “poisoner’s poison” because it is nearly impossible to detect without specialized testing and can be fatal in minute doses.
“Baseless and Misleading”
The ONSA has wasted no time in dismissing the claims as a fabrication. In the formal response, Ribadu’s office maintained that no such procurement exists in their records and that the office has never initiated any deal for the chemical.
A high-ranking official within the Presidency went further, accusing the former governor of “playing to the gallery” to distract from ongoing corruption probes in his home state of Kaduna.
“The Office of the National Security Adviser does not deal in poisons,” the ONSA statement read in part. “Given the gravity of these claims, we have referred the matter to the State Security Services for a full-scale investigation. We invite the petitioner to bring his ‘proof’ to the DSS.”
What’s Next?
With the ONSA officially handing the baton to the DSS, the pressure now shifts to El-Rufai to substantiate his claims. The former governor, known for his “tell-all” style, has yet to release a public statement following the delivery of the ONSA’s letter.
As of Monday morning, security sources indicate the DSS is waiting for the former governor to honor the invitation to submit his findings.
