Headline: Fani-Kayode Criticises El-Rufai Over Human Rights Record

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has criticised the human rights record of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, particularly during his time as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Fani-Kayode alleged that El-Rufai once attempted to shut down African Independent Television (AIT), owned by the late media mogul, Raymond Dokpesi, and seize the land where the station is located.

In a post on his Facebook page, the former minister claimed that El-Rufai tried to close the television station and also confiscated additional land belonging to the organisation.

According to him, El-Rufai allegedly seized large portions of land that AIT had legally paid for and obtained certificates of occupancy for. He further claimed that some of the station’s buildings were demolished without due process and despite existing court orders.

Fani-Kayode also accused El-Rufai of committing several human rights violations while in office, noting that the former governor has recently complained about alleged rights abuses against him.

He further alleged that after being warned to stop harassing Dokpesi and AIT, El-Rufai reportedly planned to burn down the television station. However, he claimed the plan was leaked to officials in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and was strongly opposed.

Those he said resisted the move included former Chief of Staff to the President, Abdullahi Mohammed; former presidential spokesperson, Remi Oyo; former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu; former Political Adviser to the President, Akin Osuntokun; and Uba Sani, who was then Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs.

Fani-Kayode said their intervention prevented the alleged plan from being carried out. He claimed that if they had not intervened and threatened to report the matter to President Obasanjo, the station might have been destroyed and the incident blamed on an electrical fault.

The former minister added that during Obasanjo’s administration, critics in the media were not persecuted but rather engaged through open debates.

He cited the late Sam Nda-Isaiah, founder of Leadership Newspaper, as one of the government’s strongest critics, saying that instead of being persecuted, he was engaged in public discussions.

Fani-Kayode also expressed concern over recent comments attributed to El-Rufai about the alleged importation of chemical weapons into Nigeria, urging authorities to investigate the claims thoroughly.

He noted that such allegations raise serious national security concerns and should not be ignored.

Fani-Kayode concluded that the claims and past actions attributed to El-Rufai should be carefully examined because of their possible impact on national security and democratic freedom in the country.