Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing his continued detention ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration as “cruel, unjustifiable, and deeply troubling.”
Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the situation raised serious concerns about civil liberties, democratic values and the rule of law.
The former vice president warned against the use of state institutions to harass or intimidate perceived political opponents, insisting that democracy must protect the rights of all citizens regardless of political affiliation.
According to him, keeping El-Rufai in custody during the religious celebration was politically provocative and inconsistent with justice and democratic principles.
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.
“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 must ensure fairness in the treatment of perceived opponents, warning that selective justice could weaken public confidence in democratic institutions.
He said if the former governor was being held through 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.
The call for El-Rufai’s release came days after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission disclosed that a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna granted the former governor access to medical treatment while in custody.
The order 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, over 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.