El-Rufai's Persecution and My Abduction: A Tale of Free Speech and Governance in Nigeria
Audu Maikori, the founder and chairman of Chocolate City Entertainment Group, has made a startling revelation in a recent interview on Arise Television's Prime Time program. He accused former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai of personal persecution, alleging that the incident was not a legitimate legal process but a result of El-Rufai's aggressive pursuit over a deleted tweet.
Maikori's story began with a tweet about violence in Southern Kaduna, where he shared unverified information about deaths during clashes. Upon realizing the tweet contained false details, Maikori took immediate corrective action. He explained, "The minute I found the tweet was wrong, was false, I went to the first police station available, which was in Lekki, with my driver, and wrote a statement."
His driver later confessed to fabricating the information for personal gain, and Maikori stated that the authorities, including the police, handled the matter professionally. He was released after an initial arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) on February 18, 2017.
However, Maikori's troubles did not end there. He alleged that El-Rufai continued to pursue him aggressively, saying, "A governor shouldn’t do the job of the police." Maikori was let go by the police, but El-Rufai allegedly tried to link his tweet with the possible death of 7 people the following weekend.
Maikori's allegations took a more serious turn when he accused El-Rufai of organizing his subsequent abduction. He stated, "El-Rufai persecuted me for a wrong tweet I acknowledged and took down. He organized for me to be abducted."
This incident highlights a long-standing feud tied to the 2017 Southern Kaduna violence, where Maikori's posts drew sharp criticism from El-Rufai, who labeled them inflammatory and potentially inciting. Maikori has previously referenced court rulings declaring his 2017 detention unlawful.
As of the time of this report, El-Rufai has not publicly responded to these claims. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding free speech, governance, and accountability in Nigeria's political landscape, sparking discussions on the limits of a governor's authority and the importance of a fair legal process.
