Saturday, July 2, 2011

El Rufai To Face Sedition Charges Over Article On Nigeria’s Defence Spending

Sahara Reporters
2 July 2011


The Federal Government will charge the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El Rufai, with "false publication and sedition," SaharaReporters has learned. Mr. El Rufai was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja this morning upon arrival from the United Kingdom.

Our sources said that the Director-General of the State Security Services (SSS) has determined that figures provided by El Rufai about defence spending in his article last Thursday are false.  The SSS said El Rufai ought to have called the Minister of Finance or the office of the National Security Adviser before publishing his "inciteful" article last Thursday. The agency also referred to the newly signed Freedom of Information law as a tool Mr. El-Rufai could have used to get the correct figures.

As human rights lawyers were trying to get the former Minister released on bail, SSS officials, who are reportedly being courteous to him, said they want to get El Rufai to compare figures with a team of investigators before he faces charges.

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