A former Commissioner in Kaduna State during the Nasir El-Rufai administration, Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, has reportedly been arrested by security operatives in Kaduna, REPUBLICAN NIGERIA reports.
Details of his arrest and trial remain unclear, but sources close to him, who craved anonymity, claimed he was taken to court by security operatives and later moved to a correctional facility.
Reacting, the Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has attributed his arrest to political decisions, including his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and subsequent defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai made the claim in a statement, asserting that Jafaru Sani was taken away in broad daylight by persons falsely presenting themselves as police officers.
“Mallam Jafaru Sani has been abducted in Kaduna by Uba Sani’s kidnapping gang claiming to be the police, this afternoon!” El-Rufai declared.
According to El-Rufai, Jafaru Sani was later remanded in prison custody by a magistrate without any formal charges or a First Information Report (FIR) from the police or the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice.
The former governor further revealed that Jafaru is now facing money laundering charges — an offense he argued is beyond the jurisdiction of the state judiciary and police.
He wrote, “Jafaru was remanded in prison custody by a magistrate without any police first information report or charges by the State Ministry of Justice.
“On inquiry, we have learned that Jafaru is being charged with money laundering – a federal offense that neither the State Judiciary or even the Police have jurisdiction to adjudicate or investigate.
“Jafaru’s real crime is his resignation from the APC, and joining the SDP – and having been proposed by he as the replacement ministerial nominee representing Kaduna State in August 2023.
“The tactics are similar to those used against another colleague of ours – Bashir Saidu when he was abducted on the 31st of December, 2024, and kept in captivity for 50 days before he was released on bail!
“The ignominious role of some henpecked and compromised magistrates and high court judges in the Kaduna State judiciary remains a source of great concern to us.
“We are watching and waiting as no condition is permanent, and there will be accountability for all decisions and actions, one day, soon.”
The Kaduna State Police Command has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the arrest.
