A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Buba Galadima, has recalled warning former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai that he could face imprisonment over the manner in which he conducted himself.
Galadima said he also approached NDC presidential running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso and appealed to him to persuade El-Rufai not to return to Nigeria from Egypt after the former governor was allegedly indicted.
The NDC chieftain made the disclosure while featuring on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, where he discussed El-Rufai’s ongoing legal troubles and his relationship with the political establishment.
Galadima said he had previously cautioned El-Rufai to be careful, warning that he could either leave the country or risk being jailed.
“I advised him that he should be careful of the way he carries himself, that he either goes on exile or they will jail him,” Galadima said.
He also recalled approaching Kwankwaso over the matter.
“I went and met Kwankwaso and told Kwankwaso that he should beg El-Rufai not to come back. These people do not mean well to him,” he said.
Galadima further accused President Bola Tinubu and his associates of being ungrateful to El-Rufai, while suggesting that the former governor was now facing consequences arising from his past actions.
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The NDC chieftain stressed that he was not El-Rufai’s close ally despite having previously offered him counsel.
“I’m not the best friend of El-Rufai,” he said, adding that the former governor was “suffering from what he did to others.”
El-Rufai has faced legal proceedings following his return to Nigeria from Egypt. According to the claims referenced by Galadima, the former governor was arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, on February 18, 2026.
He subsequently faced additional charges and periods of detention involving the ICPC and Department of State Services, DSS, over allegations including corruption, contract fraud, cybercrime and alleged phone-tapping involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
On May 18, the Abuja Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, reportedly granted El-Rufai bail of N100 million in the case filed by the DSS.
The former governor, however, was said to have remained in custody after being unable to meet the conditions attached to the bail.
Galadima’s comments come amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with El-Rufai and other opposition figures playing prominent roles in Nigeria’s emerging political realignment.