Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has been ordered by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to send any evidence he may have on the purported purchase of a deadly chemical to the Department of State Services for examination.
This came after El-Rufai claimed in a plea to Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, that roughly 10 kg of thallium sulphate had come from a Polish supplier.
In trace amounts, thallium sulphate, a very poisonous, colorless, and odorless chemical, can be fatal.
The NSA’s office refuted the allegation and stated that the case had been turned over to the DSS in a response dated February 13, 2026, signed by brigadier-general O.M. Adesuyi on behalf of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
“I have the honor to… acknowledge receipt of Your Excellency’s correspondence received on February 11, 2026, requesting clarification regarding the Office of the National Security Adviser’s (ONSA) alleged procurement of approximately 10 kilograms of Thallium Sulphate,” the letter stated.
The letter went on to say that the accusation had also implied that political opposition figures had access to knowledge about the alleged transaction.
ONSA responded that it was not involved in the purported transaction.
“I am instructed to politely communicate that ONSA has not acquired or started any procedure for the acquisition of such materials, and has no plans to do so,” the letter stated.
The NSA office did, however, acknowledge that the DSS had been formally tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into the accusation.
For a thorough investigation, the letter said, “I am further directed to state that the allegation has been formally referred to the Department of State Services.”
It further stated that the security service would get in touch with El-Rufai and anyone else who might have pertinent information.
“The Service will properly invite Your Excellency and other parties who may have pertinent information about this claim to provide any evidence that may aid in an in-depth investigation, establishing the facts and ensuring due diligence.”
An earlier attempt to deliver the letter to El-Rufai’s Abuja home on Friday was apparently failed because the security guards on duty refused to accept it, according to sources. On Sunday, the letter was finally delivered and accepted on his behalf.
The development coincides with the former governor’s recent allegations that he had privy to a phone conversation that was intercepted involving Ribadu.
El-Rufai claimed on Arise TV that the NSA’s phone had been tapped and that he had overheard a call in which Ribadu allegedly gave the order for security personnel to take him into custody.
During the show, he claimed that “someone tapped” the NSA’s phone and that he overheard orders purportedly sent to security services to arrest him.
