Allegations of FG Paying Bandits: Datti Baba-Ahmed Demands Action against El-Rufai

Allegations of FG Paying Bandits: Datti Baba-Ahmed Demands Action against El-Rufai

  • Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party's former vice presidential candidate, said allegations against former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai should be taken seriously
  • Baba-Ahmed called for El-Rufai to be questioned by the police and courts, stating that the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) should not take its claim lightly
  • The claims by El-Rufai, which he made during a television interview, alleged that both the federal government and the Kaduna state government are using a "kiss-the-bandits" policy

Former vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has expressed the belief that Nasir El-Rufai, a former Kaduna governor, should be taken seriously when he alleges that the federal government is paying bandits.

Following Nasir El-Rufai's allegation that the federal government is paying bandits, Datti Baba-Ahmed calls for him to be held accountable.
Datti Baba-Ahmed believes Nasir El-Rufai should face action for his claim that the federal government is paying bandits. Photo credit: @elrufai/@AishaYesufu
Source: Twitter

El-Rufai should be invited for questioning - Baba-Ahmed

The top politician, however, suggested a questioning of the former governor of Kaduna state.

Datti Baba-Ahmed spoke on Tuesday, September 2, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

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Alleged payment of bandits: “Why El-Rufai cannot absolve himself of blame”, Baba-Ahmed explains

“If the so-called office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) would take this statement with levity, then Nuhu Ribadu was never a policeman; he is not a qualified lawyer; he should not be in that office,” he said

Asked what should be done differently, Baba-Ahmed said,

“Nasir should be writing some statements to the police, to the courts”.

El-Rufai accuses FG, Kaduna govt of paying bandits

Legit.ng reported that on Sunday, August 31, El-Rufai accused the federal government and the Kaduna state of paying a “monthly allowance” to bandits and sending “food to them in the name of non-kinetic”.

While speaking, the former minister described the move as a “kiss-the-bandits” policy.

The former chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics said:

“What I will not do is to pay bandits, give them a monthly allowance, or send food to them in the name of non-kinetic. It’s nonsense; we’re empowering bandits.

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“It’s not the government of Kaduna State; it’s a national policy driven by the Office of the National Security Adviser, and Kaduna is part of it. Kiss the bandits; that’s the new policy."

NSA reacts to El-Rufai allegations

Reacting, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Kaduna government denied the claims, Vanguard reported.

NSA replies El-Rufai over allegation on paying bandits.
The NSA responds to El-Rufai's allegation on bantitry funding. Photo credit: @elrufai/@MasterBolaji
Source: Twitter

This, they labelled them as baseless.

Also reacting to NSA's reaction, Baba-Ahmed downplayed it, saying:.

“That is not a reaction,” he said about the denial of El-Rufai’s claims by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). Are people understanding the gravity of this statement?”

Shehu Sani slams El-Rufai

Previously, Legit.ng reported that Shehu Sani, the former senator representing Kaduna Central, has revealed that Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of the state, never fought for democracy and ruled with arrogance.

Speaking on TVC’s Politics Tonight on Monday, September 1, Sani asserted that El-Rufai has been “angry and frustrated” since leaving office in 2023.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ezra Ukanwa avatar

Ezra Ukanwa (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Ezra Ukanwa is a Reuters-certified journalist with over 5 years of professional experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Anchor University, Lagos. Currently, he is the Politics and Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He previously worked as a senior correspondent at Vanguard Newspapers. Ezra was recognized as Best Campus Journalist at the Anchor University Communications Awards in 2019 and is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). Contact him at: ezra.ukanwa@corp.legit.ng or +2349036989944