Temitope Ajayi accuses former Kaduna governor of spreading misinformation, says anti-graft agencies have already invited him for questioning over financial improprieties
The Presidency has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing his recent correspondence to the National Security Adviser (NSA) over alleged procurement of toxic chemicals as a calculated attempt to manufacture political tension and distract from mounting corruption allegations in his home state.
In a strongly worded statement Sunday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, accused El-Rufai of spreading misinformation capable of generating fear and unrest while casting himself as a victim of persecution.
The Chemical Question
El-Rufai had written to NSA Nuhu Ribadu seeking clarification on the alleged procurement of Thallium Sulphate—a toxic substance historically used in rat poison and insecticides, with a dark history in political assassinations. The former governor's letter raised concerns about the importation of the chemical into Nigeria through the Office of the NSA.
But Ajayi's response was unequivocal: there was no such procurement.
"There is no government procurement or importation of Thallium Sulphate into Nigeria through the Office of the National Security Adviser," Ajayi stated on his verified X handle, @TheTope_Ajayi .
The Real Issue: N432 Billion
According to the Presidency, El-Rufai's sudden interest in toxic chemicals is a transparent attempt to shift public attention from what it described as "corruption allegations levelled against him in Kaduna State."
The statement specifically referenced the Kaduna State House of Assembly's unanimous endorsement of a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking investigation into alleged financial improprieties amounting to N432 billion during his eight-year tenure .
Both anti-graft agencies, Ajayi noted, have since invited the former governor for questioning.
A Pattern of Deflection
The Presidency's response frames El-Rufai's chemical inquiry as the latest in a series of maneuvers designed to evade accountability. By raising alarms about toxic substances and national security, the former governor positions himself as a truth-teller facing down a corrupt system—a narrative the Presidency rejects entirely.
The statement suggests that El-Rufai's letter to the NSA, rather than reflecting genuine security concerns, is a political document calibrated to generate sympathy and obscure the N432 billion question.
Context: A Widening Web
El-Rufai has been at the center of multiple controversies in recent weeks, including:
- An admission that associates tapped the phone of NSA Nuhu Ribadu
- A dramatic airport confrontation with security agents who allegedly attempted to arrest him without a warrant
- Escalating war of words with the Presidency and anti-corruption agencies
The former governor has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that his administration implemented necessary reforms aimed at improving governance and fiscal discipline in Kaduna State.
What's Next
With the EFCC and ICPC reportedly moving forward with investigations, and the Presidency now publicly dismissing his chemical claims as a "smokescreen," El-Rufai faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts.
His supporters view him as a victim of political persecution—a reformer targeted by a system resistant to change. His critics see a man who, after years of wielding power, now finds himself on the receiving end of the accountability he once championed.
The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between. But for El-Rufai, caught between a corruption probe and a presidential rebuttal, the margins for maneuver are narrowing.
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