By: Bayero Ade
Honourable Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has issued a strong warning to a Twitter user, Nkirukamma, after she falsely claimed that his home was raided by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The allegations, which circulated widely online, included an unsubstantiated claim of the discovery of $800 million, ₦700 billion in cash, and drugs worth ₦1 trillion at El-Rufai’s residence.
In a now-deleted tweet, Nkirukamma described a violent confrontation during the alleged raid, claiming that two EFCC officers had been killed in the process. The post quickly gained attention, prompting a swift rebuttal from Bello El-Rufai, who vehemently denied the claims.
On December 5, 2024, Bello El-Rufai took to Twitter to express his outrage, offering a reward to anyone who could help identify the person behind the false information. He tweeted, “Any information regarding this specific person will be greatly appreciated. We are currently working on getting it. But if anyone knows and can help, my legal team will appreciate it, and I’ll add a Jika Hanta reward.”
Under mounting pressure, Nkirukamma later retracted the allegations, acknowledging that the claims were unfounded. She admitted that there were no credible sources or evidence to support her story, and apologized for the misinformation.
Despite her retraction, Bello El-Rufai remained resolute in his response. He tweeted, “You are very stupid. Maintain the first news. I have budgeted over 20 million naira (maybe from the raid) to identify who you are, and I will deal with you in court. I will make sure your next two generations are paying it to settle your debt. Thankfully, all your activists know I’ll be deaf to their noise. They already hate me, and I love it. Forget your rebuttal.”
The exchange has sparked widespread debate on social media, with some users condemning Nkirukamma for spreading unverified information, while others criticized Bello El-Rufai’s choice of language and his threatening tone.
As of now, neither the EFCC nor Bello El-Rufai has issued any official statements outside of the Twitter exchange. This incident highlights the potential consequences of spreading false information in the digital era and serves as a reminder of the legal ramifications that can follow.
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