Citing claims of corruption and worries about how insecurity was handled while he was in office, civil rights advocate and attorney Deji Adeyanju has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to look into former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Adeyanju called on the intelligence service and anti-corruption agency to act impartially and independently in a statement released on Thursday.
All public authorities, past and present, must be held accountable, he said.
He called El-Rufai’s claims of political persecution “strange,” claiming that the former governor’s administration was widely chastised for stifling dissenting opinions.
Adeyanju asserted that during that time, a number of detractors, including activists, clergy, and political analysts, allegedly experienced intimidation, harassment, or detention.
He also requested that the DSS look into alleged controversial security measures connected to El-Rufai’s government, such as claims that violent organizations received financial inducements.
He says that such allegations necessitate a thorough examination and raise serious national security issues.
Adeyanju declared: “I demand that the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) look into former Governor Nasir El-Rufai right away in light of claims of corruption and his management of insecurity while in office. Nobody ought to be exempt from the law.
“He must provide a complete account if there are concerns regarding financial misconduct or abuse of office, and the appropriate agencies must resist any kind of intimidation or blackmail.”
Hearing allegations of political persecution from a leader whose administration was frequently accused of stifling critics is peculiar.
Activists, religious leaders, and public commentators were among the people who were allegedly jailed, harassed, or intimidated for speaking out against his rule.
A bitter reminder of that time period that must not be forgotten is the unresolved abduction of one of his well-known detractors, who was kidnapped in front of his family.
“In addition, the DSS ought to look into alleged allegations that his government made contentious security arrangements, such as payments to violent actors.”
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