Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has described the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, as a liar after Ribadu denied ever labeling President Bola Tinubu as corrupt during his tenure as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

El-Rufai, who has been vocal in criticizing the APC establishment, including President Tinubu, accused Ribadu of suffering from memory loss.

His reaction comes amid the ongoing controversy between Ribadu and former Police Service Commission (PSC) commissioner, Hajia Naja’atu Muhammad.

In a viral TikTok video, Naja’atu Muhammad alleged that Ribadu had, during his time as EFCC chairman, described Senators George Akume, Orji Uzor Kalu, and other former governors as corrupt.

However, Ribadu, through his lawyer, Dr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, demanded a public apology and retraction from Naja’atu Muhammad.

A letter from Raji stated that the allegations had caused significant reputational damage to Ribadu.

The letter read in part: "Clearly, in the text of your recording, you stated that when our client served as EFCC chairman, he allegedly named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside Senators George Akume and Orji Uzor Kalu, as the governors in Nigeria who stole the most from the public treasury."

"You also claimed that today, our client, who once held this view about President Tinubu, has now become his staunchest defender, particularly regarding the government’s alleged agenda to silence dissenting voices, citing the purported arrest of Prof. Usman Yusuf as an example."

"You further suggested that our client’s change in attitude toward President Tinubu means he was either lying then or is lying now."

"Privately or publicly, our client has never expressed such views about President Tinubu, Senator Akume, or Senator Kalu. Therefore, he was completely surprised when his attention was drawn to your statements."

"In light of this, our client challenges you to provide evidence of your allegations, which have portrayed him as double-faced, duplicitous, and deceitful in the eyes of the public."

However, stepping into the controversy, El-Rufai, who was the FCT Minister in 2006 when the alleged statements were made, insisted that official records would prove Ribadu was lying.

El-Rufai said the Senate proceedings and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) records from 2006 could confirm Ribadu’s statements.

“Nuhu must have serious amnesia,” El-Rufai remarked, referring to memory loss, including facts, information, and experiences.

A report by Daily Trust quoted El-Rufai as saying: "The record of proceedings in the Senate will confirm that Nuhu made those statements sometime in 2006."

"A Daily Trust report from February 2007 further reinforces the claims."

"The conclusions from the 2006 Federal Executive Council meeting, which can be retrieved from the cabinet secretariat of the SGF’s office, contain the allegations."

"In that special FEC meeting, where I was a member, Nuhu’s EFCC made similar presentations accusing many sitting officials. These council conclusions will further remove all doubts."

"This is for the record and to remind the morally flexible that, at some point in our national life, silence is no longer golden."