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The
former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nasir el-Rufai, will
return to Nigeria on Saturday, NEXT can exclusively report.

Mr. El-Rufai has
been on a self-imposed exile since November 2009, and even though he
had announced that he would return to the country in December, he
released a statement, five days to his planned arrival, saying he had
postponed his return for security reasons.

At the time, his
lawyer Bamidele Aturu, in an interview with NEXT, said that “in the
light of the uncertainty surrounding the exercise of public power in
Nigeria in general, and security matters in particular, it would be
decidedly unguarded for Mallam El-Rufai to return to Nigeria on 27
December 2009.”

Since then, a lot
has changed on Nigeria’s political scene, with the former Vice
President stepping into the shoes of ailing President, Umaru Musa
Yar’Adua. It is still not clear if this has a bearing on Mr. El-Rufai’s
decision to return, but sources close to him told NEXT that his flight
is booked and he will be arriving at the Nnamdi Azikwe International
Airport, Abuja, on Saturday, aboard a British Airways flight BA0083.

It is also unclear
what Mr. El-Rufai’s plans are once he returns to Nigeria, or what he
intends to do about the two arrest warrants issued against him. The
first warrant accused Mr. El-Rufai of conducting treasonable activities
abroad. While the second, issued on November 5, described Mr. El-Rufai
as wanted “for acts contrary to Sections 96, 120, 123 and 124 CAP 532
laws of the federation of Nigeria” as well as “some provisions of the
Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act (of) 2000.” Former
Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael
Aondoakaa, had also announced the commencement of extradition
proceedings on Mr. El-Rufai, based on the Senate Committee on FCT’s
report, which also allegedly indicted the ex-minister.

Mr. El-Rufai is
also being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) to account for almost $250 million spent during his tenure as
Minister of the FCT. He, however, in a terse email letter to the
anti-graft agency, ahead of his planned return last year, stated that
“for the avoidance of any doubt, I am returning to Nigeria on the 27th
of December, 2009. I will never be afraid to face a bunch of lackeys
like you.”

He is facing an
eight-count charge for criminal conspiracy and abuse of office while he
served as minister along with Altine Jubrin, a former director general,
Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), and Ismaila Iro, former
general manager of the same organisation.

As of the time we went to press, neither Mr. El-Rufai nor his lawyer Mr. Aturu could be reached for comments.

Mr. El-Rufai’s return might add to the complications and internal
crises presently experienced within the ruling People’s Democratic
Party (PDP). He is a card carrying member of the PDP, although it is
not clear which of the factions in the party he belongs to.