Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged federal authorities and the Kaduna State Government to release former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, describing his continued detention as “cruel, unjustifiable, and deeply troubling.”
Atiku said El-Rufai’s detention amounted to a breach of civil liberties, democratic principles, and the rule of law, warning against the use of government institutions to harass perceived political rivals.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
The former vice president, who is a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, described the former governor’s continued detention as politically charged and contrary to democratic values.
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He said: “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.
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“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.
“I therefore call for the immediate release of Mallam El-Rufai and urge all relevant authorities to rise above political bitterness and act in the interest of justice, peace, and national cohesion.”
Atiku further stated that both the Federal Government and Kaduna State authorities should remember that democracy is judged by how fairly opponents are treated, adding that selective justice weakens public trust in the rule of law.
He said if El-Rufai’s detention was part of a lawful process, authorities owed Nigerians transparency regarding the matter.
“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.
“Democracy does not grant the government the licence to punish dissent, settle political scores, or deploy coercive institutions as instruments of intimidation.
“The Federal Government and the Kaduna State authorities must understand that selective justice is injustice. The credibility of any democracy is measured not by how it treats loyalists, but by how it treats perceived opponents,” he said.
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The call comes a week after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission disclosed that a Federal High Court in Kaduna had granted El-Rufai permission to receive medical treatment while in custody.
The ruling followed an application by defence counsel during the ongoing trial involving allegations of money laundering and corruption-related offences against the former governor.
El-Rufai and his co-defendant, Joel Adoga, are standing trial before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of proceeds of corruption, as well as money laundering under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
