“Let Him Face the Law” — Reno Omokri Revisits El-Rufai’s Record Amid Fresh Controversy
By: Oluwaseun Lawal
The airport drama is still fresh. Cameras. Raised voices. Allegations flying.
But Reno Omokri says the bigger story is not what happened at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. It is what he claims happened years ago in Kaduna.
In a Facebook post on Friday, the ambassador-designate turned public commentator took direct aim at former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai. His message was blunt: prosecution, not sympathy.
Omokri revisited el-Rufai’s eight-year tenure, pointing to what he described as a troubling legacy — alleged human rights violations, suppression of critics, demolitions of properties linked to political opponents. He referenced the case of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, who was detained for years following the December 2015 Zaria clashes.
Omokri cited the figure of 347 Shia Muslims reportedly killed during that crisis — a number contained in the official report of the Kaduna State Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up in 2016. Other groups have disputed and in some cases projected higher estimates. The events remain controversial. Deeply.
He also mentioned Abubakar Idris, widely known as “Dadiyata,” who was abducted in 2019 and remains missing. Authorities have repeatedly denied involvement. The case is still unresolved.
Journalists were not left out of his claims. Omokri listed names including Jacob Onjewu Dickson, Segun Onibiyo, Midat Joseph and Audu Maikori — individuals who, at different times, had legal confrontations with the Kaduna State Government during el-Rufai’s administration. Maikori later left Nigeria, citing security concerns.
Beyond arrests, Omokri accused el-Rufai of ordering demolitions of properties allegedly linked to critics, including those connected to Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi and the late Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir. At the time, the Kaduna State Government maintained that demolitions were based on urban planning regulations. Critics disagreed.
And then there is the money question.
Omokri referenced allegations raised by the Kaduna State House of Assembly regarding the alleged misappropriation of ₦423 billion during el-Rufai’s tenure. Those allegations have not resulted in a conviction. Investigations and political disputes around them continue.
His argument is straightforward. If there are allegations, let the courts handle them. No drama. No airport resistance. Just due process.
This comes days after supporters of el-Rufai claimed DSS operatives attempted to arrest him upon arrival from Cairo. According to his camp, he resisted because no warrant or formal invitation was presented. His lawyers have described the incident as unlawful and demanded the return of his passport.
For Omokri, however, the narrative of persecution does not hold. He insists that no public office holder is above the law. And if there are questions to answer, they should be answered in court — not on television.
The debate is heating up. Old wounds. New accusations. And a legal process that may yet decide where the truth truly lies.
