Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has raised fresh concerns over alleged intimidation, claiming that security operatives planned to arrest his elder brother, Bashir El-Rufai, during the burial of their mother.

El-Rufai, now a prominent figure within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the allegation in a video statement, asserting that the move was intended to pressure him into negotiations amid his ongoing legal challenges.

According to him, his brother deliberately stayed away from the burial after receiving intelligence about the alleged plan. “They believe if they get him, I will negotiate,” El-Rufai claimed, suggesting the move was part of a broader strategy targeting him.

The controversy comes in the wake of the death of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who passed away in Cairo. Her remains were flown to Abuja, where she was laid to rest on Sunday.

The development adds another layer to El-Rufai’s ongoing legal troubles. He was recently arrested and detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations bordering on corruption and money laundering. He was subsequently arraigned before a Federal High Court in Kaduna on a 10-count charge.

The court adjourned the case to March 31, 2026, for the hearing of pending applications, including his bail request. He was, however, granted temporary release to attend his mother’s burial.

While security agencies have yet to respond to the allegations, the claims are likely to intensify political and legal tensions surrounding the former governor, raising questions about due process, abuse of power, and the intersection of politics and law enforcement in Nigeria’s evolving democratic space.