Nasir El-Rufai Dares EFCC, Due in Abuja On December 27, 2009

NASIR EL-RUFAI

San Francisco (THEWILL) - The embattled former minister of the FCT, Nasir El-Rufai has announced his date of return to Nigeria. In an angry, bold and tersely worded note addressed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s spokesman which was obtained by THEWILL, El-Rufai said he would arrive in Nigeria on Sunday, December 27, 2009.

See the full text of the note below:

"Mr. Femi Baba Femi,

The EFCC's attempt to try this case via headlines is pathetic, disrespectful and contemptuous to the Nigerian Judiciary. Your press releases which often grossly misrepresent what actually transpired in Court is an abuse of your privilege as prosecutors. You have shown yourself by your idiotic, self-serving "press releases" to be persecutors - not prosecutors, and completely unaware of what a justice system should be. Your conduct is disgraceful and violates the principles of presumption of innocence of any accused person entrenched under our Constitution and laws of Nigeria. 

These falsehoods you are dishing out are meant to intimidate me from returning to Nigeria - while smearing my reputation. My Nigerian and international legal defense team are assembling all your defamatory falsehoods for subsequent legal actions in Nigerian and other courts where your statements are published.  

For the avoidance of any doubt, I am returning to Nigeria on the 27th of December, 2009. Your worst nightmare - that I will dare the now, new and wholly-corrupt EFCC and return to Nigeria - will be realized on that day - and the ball will then be in your court, and that of Nigerian and international public opinion. I will never be afraid to face a bunch of lackeys like you. See you soon. 

Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, OFR"   

The commission on Tuesday through its attorney had tried to obtain a warrant for the arrest of the former minister at the resumed hearing on his 8-count trial for conspiracy and abuse of office but failed to convince the Judge to issue one instantly. Justice Adamu Bello instead deferred ruling on the application to February 9, 2010.

Mallam El-Rufai, a very outspoken critic of the Yar’adua government has been abroad for more than two years studying at the prestigious Harvard University. He has consistently said the government is persecuting him for his opposition to its policies.