El-Rufai Deserves Fair Defence, Says Timi Frank
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has called on Nigerian authorities to uphold the rule of law and guarantee fair treatment for former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, currently held in the custody of the Department of State Services.
Frank, in a statement issued on Friday, urged security agencies to protect El-Rufai’s fundamental rights and ensure the former governor is granted sufficient time and opportunity to prepare an adequate defence.
“For the umpteenth time, I reiterate my support for the fight against corruption. However, fairness, justice, rule of law, and due process must never be sacrificed under any circumstance,” Frank said.
According to Frank, El-Rufai voluntarily presented himself to security agencies upon returning to Nigeria from Egypt, a detail he stressed should weigh in favour of transparent and lawful handling of the case.
Beyond calling for due process, Frank extended his appeal to a broad coalition of stakeholders, urging the Nigerian Bar Association, religious leaders, northern elders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and the international community to actively monitor and intervene in the matter.
“I therefore call on the Nigerian Bar Association, religious leaders, northern elders, traditional rulers, northern youths, civil society organisations, well-meaning Nigerians, and the international community to urgently demand his immediate release so he can adequately prepare for his defence,” he stated.
Frank specifically directed an appeal at northern leaders and youths, warning against passivity in the face of what he described as a potentially grave situation.
“I pray that northern elders and youths will not sit back and watch anything untoward happen to Mallam El-Rufai,” he said.
El-Rufai served as Governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and was a prominent figure within the APC during the 2023 general elections. He has remained a significant presence in Nigeria’s political landscape following his exit from government, making his detention a matter of considerable national interest.
Frank, who is himself a former senior official of the same party under which El-Rufai governed, insisted that the anti-corruption agenda of the Nigerian state must be pursued without compromising the foundational principles of justice and accountability. He urged security agencies to act with professionalism and full transparency throughout the process.
El-Rufai’s detention by the DSS has drawn attention from across Nigeria’s political spectrum, with observers closely watching how authorities manage a case involving one of the country’s most prominent former state chief executives.