National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has demanded a public apology from Naja’atu Muhammad over claims that he once labeled President Bola Tinubu corrupt. Ribadu denies the allegations and threatens legal action if Muhammad fails to retract her statement and issue a public apology within seven days.Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has waded into the ongoing feud between National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu and former Police Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner, Naja’atu Muhammad, over claims that Ribadu once accused President Bola Tinubu of corruption.
The controversy erupted after Ribadu, through his lawyer, demanded a public apology from Muhammad for statements made in a viral TikTok video. In the video, Muhammad alleged that Ribadu, during his tenure as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, labeled Tinubu as one of the most corrupt governors in Nigeria. Ribadu denied ever making such statements, calling the claims defamatory and threatening legal action.
In response, Muhammad stood her ground, stating that Ribadu’s past remarks were public knowledge. Supporting her, El-Rufai accused Ribadu of suffering from "serious amnesia," arguing that records from the Senate and a 2006 Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting prove Ribadu made the claims.
El-Rufai referenced a 2007 Daily Trust report and asserted that official government documents could corroborate Muhammad’s statements. He further criticized Ribadu’s shifting stance, declaring, “At some point in our national life, silence is no longer golden.”
This high-profile disagreement has sparked political debate, with observers questioning Ribadu’s credibility and the implications for Tinubu’s administration. The dispute also highlights ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s political elite, as past statements resurface to challenge current allegiances.
