ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and Kaduna State authorities to immediately release former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
Atiku described El-Rufai’s continued detention as “cruel, unjustifiable and deeply troubling,” warning against the use of state institutions to intimidate perceived political opponents.
The former vice president made his position known in a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
According to Atiku, detaining El-Rufai during a significant religious celebration without what he described as clear evidence of due process amounted to political persecution and a violation of democratic principles.
“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,” Atiku said.
He added that Eid should represent mercy, reconciliation and humanity, insisting there was no justification for keeping El-Rufai away from his family during such a solemn period.
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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,” he stated.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, chieftain further urged authorities to put justice and national unity above political interests.
“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,” he added.
Atiku also warned against selective justice, stressing that democracy should be judged by how fairly governments treat perceived opponents.
“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.
“Democracy does not grant the government the licence to punish dissent, settle political scores, or deploy coercive institutions as instruments of intimidation.”
He further insisted that if El-Rufai’s detention followed legitimate legal procedures, authorities owed Nigerians transparency regarding the matter.
“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,” Atiku stated.
The call for El-Rufai’s release came one week after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, announced that a Federal High Court in Kaduna granted the former governor access to medical treatment while in custody.
The ruling followed an application by defence counsel during proceedings in the ongoing trial involving alleged money laundering and corruption-related offences.
El-Rufai and his co-defendant, Joel Adoga, are currently facing a 10-count charge before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, 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 to the charges.