ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has thrown a direct challenge at the Federal Government.
It says the handling of cases involving former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and former Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami, reeks of selective justice.
In a statement, the party accused the administration of Bola Tinubu of allowing enforcement actions to create what it called the “appearance of pre-trial punishment.”
The statement was signed by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
“As a law-abiding party, it is important to state for the record that the ADC believes no citizen, regardless of stature or past office, is above the law,” Abdullahi said.
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But he warned that justice must not only be done — it must be seen to be done.
“In a constitutional democracy where the law is seen to operate selectively, it becomes imperative to insist… that justice must be applied evenly, transparently, and without political calculation”, he said.
The party questioned the movement of the two men between security agencies.
“The movement of Malami and El-Rufai from the custody of one law enforcement agency to another, in rapid succession, while investigations appear ongoing, has raised profound public concern,” he said.
“In a democracy that is supposed to be governed by the rule of law, custody must follow credible, well-prepared charges, not precede them in a manner that creates the appearance of pre-trial punishment.”
“If there is evidence against Abubakar Malami, prosecute him transparently. If there is evidence against Nasir El-Rufai, present it before the court and allow the law to take its course.”
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The ADC also referenced another high-profile case involving allegations of passport forgery and international conspiracy where suspects were granted bail.
“They are therefore presumed innocent under the Constitution until proven otherwise in a fair and competent court of law. That presumption should not be treated as a courtesy, but as a constitutional guarantee”, he stated.
The party said it would continue to stand by its members and urged authorities to ensure equal application of the law.
In Nigeria’s political theatre, the argument is no longer about prosecution. It is about perception.