Atiku Demands El-Rufai’s Release Before Eid
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government and Kaduna State authorities to immediately release ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing his continued detention ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations as “cruel, unjustifiable, and deeply troubling.”
Atiku, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, made the demand in a statement issued on Friday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu. He described the detention as a violation of civil liberties, democratic norms and the rule of law, and warned against the deployment of state institutions to intimidate political opponents.
“At a time when millions of Muslims across Nigeria and around the world are preparing to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, a sacred season of sacrifice, compassion, forgiveness, and family reunion, it would be unconscionable for any government to weaponise state power in a manner that denies a citizen his liberty without just cause, particularly in circumstances that raise legitimate concerns about political persecution,” Atiku said.
He further argued that the festive season demanded a higher standard of compassion from those in authority. “Eid is a time for mercy, reconciliation, and humanity. There is absolutely no justification for keeping a man away from his family during such a solemn and spiritually significant occasion, especially where due process has not been clearly demonstrated,” he added.
Atiku called for transparency from both the Federal Government and Kaduna authorities, noting that if the former governor is being held through a legitimate legal process, Nigerians deserve to know.
“Mallam El-Rufai, regardless of political differences or shifting alliances, remains a Nigerian citizen entitled to the full protection of the Constitution, including his rights to dignity, liberty, and due process,” he said.
The former vice president also issued a pointed warning against what he characterised as selective justice. “The credibility of any democracy is measured not by how it treats loyalists, but by how it treats perceived opponents,” he stated.
El-Rufai and co-defendant Joel Adoga are currently standing trial before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of proceeds of corruption, as well as money laundering, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
The call for release comes one week after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission confirmed that a Federal High Court in Kaduna granted El-Rufai access to medical treatment while in custody, following a plea by his defence counsel during proceedings in the ongoing trial.